45-SeCoND VOICE RECORDER MODULE i i i i
Record two, four or eight different messages Clean and glitch-free line-level audio output Can feed an amplifier or PA system 8-bit recording quality, user-selected bandwidth
W MIC IN A R Mic OCHIP Dev rostick elop Boa ment rd
PIR-Triggered Mains Switch Use a domestic PIR system to switch any mains-powered device rated up to 10A
Multi-function, intelligent remote-controlled dimmer The ultimate dimmer project using a standard handheld remote
Teach-In 2011 – Part 6
Logic circuits – Our not-to-be-missed introduction to gates and flip-flops APRIL 2011 Cover.indd 1
$8.75US $10.25CAN £3.95UK APRIL 2011 PRINTED IN THE UK
24/02/2011 11:53:13
Microchip Offers Lowest Currents for Active and Sleep Modes
Microcontrollers
Low-Power Microcontrollers for Battery-Friendly Design
Digital Signal Controllers Analog Memory
Extend the battery life in your application using PIC® microcontrollers with nanoWatt XLP Technology and get the industry’s lowest currents for Active and Sleep modes. Microchip’s new peripheral-rich PIC12F182X, PIC16F182X and PIC16F19XX families offer active currents of less than 50 μA and sleep currents down to 20 nA. These products enable you to create battery-friendly designs that also incorporate capacitive touch sensing, LCD, communications and other functions which help differentiate your products in the marketplace. Microchip’s Enhanced Mid-range 8-bit architecture provides up to 50% increased performance and 14 new instructions that result in up to 40% better code execution over previous-generation 8-bit PIC16 MCUs. PIC12F182X and PIC16F182X families include: t Packages ranging from 8 to 64 pins t mTouch™ capacitive touch-sensing t Multiple communications peripherals t Dual I2C™/SPI interfaces t PWM outputs with independent time bases t Data signal modulator
PIC16F19XX family includes: t mTouch capacitive touch-sensing t LCD drive t Multiple communications peripherals t More PWM channels, with independent timers t Up to 28 KB of Flash program memory t Enhanced data EEPROM t 32-level bandgap reference t Three rail-to-rail input comparators
GET STARTED IN 3 EASY STEPS 1. View the Low Power Comparison videos 2. Download the Low Power Tips ‘n Tricks 3. Order samples and development tools www.microchip.com/XLP
PIC16F193X ‘F1’ Evaluation Platform - DM164130-1
Intelligent Electronics start with Microchip www.microchip.com/xlp The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and PIC are registered trademarks and mTouch is a trademark of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. © 2010 Energizer. Energizer and other marks are trademarks owned by Energizer. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies. © 2010, Microchip Technology Incorporated, All Rights Reserved. ME257Eng/06.10
Copyright 2010, Wimborne Publishing Ltd (Sequoia House, 398a Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9AU, UK)
and TechBites Interactive Inc., (PO Box 857, Madison, Alabama 35758, USA)
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WARNING! ThematerialsandworkscontainedwithinEPEOnline—whicharemadeavailable byWimbornePublishingLtdandTechBitesInteractiveInc—arecopyrighted.You arepermittedtomakeabackupcopyofthedownloadedfileandone(1)hard copyofsuchmaterialsandworksforyourpersonaluse. Internationalcopyrightlaws,however,prohibitanyfurthercopyingor reproductionofsuchmaterialsandworks,oranyrepublicationofanykind. TechBitesInteractiveIncandWimbornePublishingLtdhaveusedtheirbest effortsinpreparingthesematerialsandworks.However,TechBitesInteractiveInc andWimbornePublishingLtdmakenowarrantiesofanykind,expressedor implied,withregardtothedocumentationordatacontainedherein,and specificallydisclaim,withoutlimitation,anyimpliedwarrantiesofmerchantability andfitnessforaparticularpurpose.Becauseofpossiblevariancesinthequality andconditionofmaterialsandworkmanshipusedbyreaders,EPEOnline,its publishersandagentsdisclaimanyresponsibilityforthesafeandproper functioningofreaderͲconstructedprojectsbasedonorfrominformation publishedinthesematerialsandworks.InnoeventshallTechBitesInteractiveInc orWimbornePublishingLtdberesponsibleorliableforanylossofprofitorany othercommercialdamages,includingbutnotlimitedtospecial,incidental, consequential,oranyotherdamagesinconnectionwithorarisingoutof furnishing,performance,oruseofthesematerialsandworks.
ISSN 0262 3617 z PROJECTS z THEORY z z NEWS z COMMENT z z POPULAR FEATURES z VOL. 40. No 4
INCORPORATING ELECTRONICS TODAY INTERNATIONAL
April 2011
www.epemag.com
Projects and Circuits 45-SECOND VOICE RECORDER MODULE by Jim Rowe A design that can easily record two, four or eight different messages.
10
MULTI-FUNCTION, INTELLIGENT REMOTE-CONTROLLED DIMMER by Mauro Grassi Use almost any RC5 remote with this versatile, low standby power marvel.
18
PIR-TRIGGERED MAINS SWITCH by Jim Rowe Switch just about any plug-in mains-powered device using a PIR sensor.
32
A QUICK’N’EASY DIGITAL SLIDE ‘SCANNER’ by Brian Coulson A simple way to copy slides onto your computer’s hard drive.
40
INGENUITY UNLIMITED Universal Remote Control Receiver – In control
64
Series and Features TECHNO TALK by Mark Nelson Decoding The Heavens
17
MAX’S COOL BEANS by Max The Magnificent Sugar and space and all things nice… Elementary IC
30
TEACH-IN 2011 by Mike and Richard Tooley Part 6: Logic circuits
44
CIRCUIT SURGERY by Ian Bell Collector-base feedback/bias
57
PIC N’ MIX by Mike Hibbett Software development
60
INTERFACE by Robert Penfold A simple analogue optical interface
62
NET WORK by Alan Winstanley A cool billion... Getting started
72
Regulars and Services EDITORIAL Handmade chips
7
NEWS – Barry Fox highlights technology’s leading edge Plus everyday news from the world of electronics
8
MICROCHIP READER OFFER EPE Exclusive – Win a Microchip Microstick Development Board
EPE PIC PROJECTS CD-ROM VOL.1 AND VOL.2 A plethora of handPICed projects
31 42, 56
PIC RESOURCES CD-ROM 66 EPE PIC Tutorial V2, plus PIC Toolkit Mk3 and a selection of PIC-related articles SUBSCRIBE TO EPE and save money
68
CD-ROMS FOR ELECTRONICS A wide range of CD-ROMs for hobbyists, students and engineers
69
READOUT Matt Pulzer addresses general points arising
74
DIRECT BOOK SERVICE A wide range of technical books available by mail order, plus more CD-ROMs
75
© Wimborne Publishing Ltd 2011. Copyright in all drawings, photographs and articles published in EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS is fully protected, and reproduction or imitations in whole or in part are expressly forbidden.
EPE PCB SERVICE PCBs for EPE projects
78
ADVERTISERS INDEX
80
Our May 2011 issue will be published on Thursday 14 April 2011, see page 80 for details.
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SFX KITS
FEATURED KITS Everyday Practical Electronics Magazine has been publishing a series of popular kits by the acclaimed Silicon Chip Magazine Australia. These projects are 'bullet proof' and already tested down under. All Jaycar kits are supplied with specified board components, quality fibreglass tinned PCBs and have clear English instructions. Watch this space for future featured kits.
APRIL 2011
PIR CONTROLLED MAINS POWER SWITCH KC-5455 £36.25 plus postage & packing OekÊl[i[[dj^ei[b_]^ji\_jj[Zm_j^F?HZ[j[Yjehij^Wj turn on when someone approaches. Well now you can do the same thing with just about any mains-powered device you like including security systems, decorative lighting, fountain pumps or even commercial advertising etc. The ioij[cki[iWijWdZWhZF?HjeiW\[bojkhded(*&L79 mains device(s) for an adjustable fh[#i[jf[h_eZ$A_jikffb_[Z with case, screen printed PCB, and all electronic components. Dej[0H[gk_h[iKAcW_diieYa[j or adaptor
FEATURED THIS MONTH
Discharge Ignition Kit for Motor Bikes KC-5466 £10.00 plus postage & packing Many modern motor bikes use a Capacitor :_iY^Wh][?]d_j_ed 9:? je_cfhel[ performance and enhance h[b_WX_b_jo$>em[l[h"_\j^[9:? ignition module fails, a replacement can be very expensive. This kit will replace many failed factory units and is suitable for engines that provide a positive capacitor voltage and have a separate trigger coil. Supplied with solder masked PCB and overlay, case and components. Some mounting hardware required.
AUTOMOTIVE KITS
Theremin Synthesiser Kit MKII KC-5475 £27.25 plus postage & packing The ever-popular Theremin is better than ever. It's easier to set up with extra test points for volume adjustment and power supply measurement and it now runs on AC to avoid the interference switchmode plugpacks can cause. It's also easier to build with PCB-mounted switches and pots to reduce wiring to just the hand plate, speaker and antenna. It also has the addition of a skew control to vary the audio tone from distorted to clean. 9ecfb[j[a_jYedjW_diF98m_j^el[hbWo"fh[#cWY^_d[Z case and all specified components Featured in EPE March 2011
Starship Enterprise Door Sound Emulator KC-5423 £17.25 plus postage & packing
Knock Sensor KC-5444 £8.75 plus postage & packing 7ZZj^_iefj_edjeoekhA9#+**( programmable high energy ignition system and the unit will automatically retard the ignition timing if knocking is detected. Ideal for high performance YWhihkdd_d]^_]^eYjWd[\k[b$H[gk_h[iWadeYai[dieh m^_Y^_iY^[WfboWlW_bWXb[\hecceijmh[Ya[hi$A_j includes PCB with overlay and all specified components. <[Wjkh[Z_d;F;:[Y[cX[h(&&/
Delta Throttle Timer KC-5373 £12.50 plus postage & packing
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This brilliant design will trigger a relay when the accelerator is pressed or lifted quickly. There is a long list of uses for this kit, such as automatic transmission switching of economy to power modes, trigger electronic blow-off valves on quick throttle lifts and much more! It is completely adjustable, and uses the ekjfkje\WijWdZWhZj^hejjb[fei_j_edi[dieh$A_j supplied with PCB, and all electronic components.
Featured in EPE June/July 2010
Featured in EPE November 2006
This easy to build kit emulates the unique sound of a cabin door opening or closing on the Starship Enterprise. The sound can be triggered by switch contacts or even fitted to automatic doors. A_jikffb_[Zm_j^F98m_j^el[hbWo" speaker, case and all specified components /#'(L:9h[]kbWj[Z Featured in EPE June 2008
KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM KC-5458 £30.00 plus postage & packing This excellent keyless entry system features two independent door strike outputs and will recognise up to 16 separate key fobs. The system keeps the coded key fobs synchronised to the receiver and compensates for random button presses while the fobs are out of range. Supplied with solder masked and silk screen PCB, two programmed PIC micros, battery and all electronic components. H[Y[_l[hh[gk_h[iW'(L:9'$+7 power supply Iec[IC:iebZ[h_d]_ih[gk_h[Z <[Wjkh[Z_d;F;7k]%I[fj(&&/
SMART CARD READER / PROGRAMMER KIT LOW COST PROGRAMMABLE INTERVAL TIMER KC-5464 £16.00 plus postage & packing Here's a new and completely updated version of the very fefkbWhbemYeij'(L:9[b[Yjhed_Yj_c[h$?j_ib_da programmed for either a single ON, or continuous ON/OFF YoYb_d]\ehkfje*.ed%e\\j_c[f[h_eZi$I[b[YjWXb[ periods are from 1 to 80 seconds, minutes, or hours and it YWdX[h[ijWhj[ZWjWdoj_c[$A_j_dYbkZ[iF98WdZWbb specified electronic components.
THE FLEXITIMER KA-1732 £9.00 plus postage & packing This kit uses a handful of components to accurately time intervals from a few seconds to a whole day. It can switch a number of different output devices and can be powered by a battery or mains plugpack.
KC-5361 £25.00 plus postage & packing Fhe]hWcXej^j^[c_YheYedjhebb[hWdZ;;FHEC_dj^[fefkbWh gold, silver & emerald wafer cards. Card used needs to conform to ?IE#-.',ijWdZWhZi$Fem[h[ZXo/#'(L:9mWbbWZWfjehehW/L battery. Instructions outline software requirements that are freely WlW_bWXb[edj^[_dj[hd[j$A_jikffb_[Z with PCB, wafer card socket & all electronic components. F98:_c[di_edi0'*'n'&'cc
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Jaycar Electronics will not accept responsibility for the operation of this device, its related software, or its potential to be used for unlawful purposes.
Featured in EPE August 2010
Featured in EPE May/June 2008
Featured in EPE May 2006
AUDIO KITS Studio 350 - High Power Amplifier
Balanced to Unbalanced Audio Converter
Bridge Mode Adaptor for Stereo Amplifiers
KC-5372 £79.50 plus postage & packing
KC-5468 £15.00 plus postage & packing
KC-5469 £13.25 plus postage & packing
J^[ijkZ_e)+&fem[hWcfb_\_[hm_bbZ[b_l[hWm^eff_d] )+&MHCI_dje*e^cieh(&&MHCI_dje.e^ci$?je\\[hi h[Wb]hkdjki_d]W^_]^fem[hC@(''/)%*jhWdi_ijehWdZ_i super quiet with a very low signal to noise ration and harmonic distortion. This kit is supplied in short form with PCB and electronic components. A_jh[gk_h[i^[Wji_daWdZ !%# -&Lfem[hikffboWi described in instructions. See website for more specifications.
This kit will adapt an unbalanced input to balanced output and vice versa. This allows domestic equipment to be integrated into a professional installation while maintaining the inherent high immunity to noise pick-up on long cable runs fhel_Z[ZXoXWbWdY[Zb_d[i$A_jikffb_[Zm_j^iebZ[hcWia[Z PCB and all specified components.
Featured in EPE Oct/Nov 2006
Featured in EPE September 2010
Enables you to run a stereo amplifier in 'Bridged Mode' to effectively double the power available to drive a single speaker. There are no modifications required on the amplifier and the signal processing is done by this clever kit. Supplied with silk screened PCB and components. H[gk_h[iXWbWdY[Z !%# '+#,&Lfem[hikffbo$ F98:_c[di_edi0'&)n.+cc Featured in EPE September 2010
Freecall order: 0800 032 7241
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97H87JJ;HOCED?JEH KA-1683 £8.50 plus postage & packing
Transistor Tester
Don’t get caught with a flat battery! This simple electronic voltmeter lets you monitor the condition of your car’s battery so you can act before getting stranded. 10 LEDs tell you your battery’s condition.
ng KA-1119 £12.25 plus postage & packi
Have you ever unsoldered a suspect transistor only to find that it checks OK? Troubleshooting exercises are often hindered by this type of false alarm. You can avoid these hassles with the In-Circuit JhWdi_ijeh"I9HWdZ Diode Tester. The kit does just that, test drives without the need to unsolder them from the circuit! Kit includes a jiffy box, battery, electronic CONSISTENT components and a panel I;BB;H
A_j_dYbkZ[iF9XeWhZWdZWbb components F98:_c[di_edi0,(n)/cc
:?=?J7BCKBJ?C;J;HA?J KG-9250 £11.00 plus postage & packing Learn everything there is to know about component recognition and basic electronics with this comprehensive kit. From test leads to solder, everything you need for the construction of this meter is included. :_c[di_edi0,- M n 123(H) x 25(D)mm
LEBJ7=;CED?JEHA?J KC-5424 £10.75 plus postage & packing This versatile kit will allow you to monitor the battery voltage, the airflow meter or oxygen sensor in your car. The kit features 10 LEDs that illuminate in response to the measured voltage, preset /#',L"&$#+Leh&#'LhWd][i" complete with a fast response time, high input impedance and auto dimming for night time driving. A_j_dYbkZ[iF98m_j^el[hbWo"B;:XWh]hWf^WdZWbb electronic components. '(L:9 H[Yecc[dZ[ZXen0K8+ki[>8#,&'+'$(+
B;:J;IJ;HCE:KB; AA-0272 £7.75 plus postage & packing With this basic but essential tool it is possible to check the function, brightness, colour and polarity of all kinds of light emitting diodes (LED). The LED to be tested plugs into the front panel, at the current you wish to test it with. Two 10 mA positions have been included on this multi-LED tester so that comparisons between two LEDs can be made simultaneously. H[gk_h[i/L8ebj dej_dYbkZ[Z J[ijYkhh[dji0'c7"($+c7"+c7" 10mA, 20mA, 50mA :_c[di_edi0+.n**n(+cc
WATER TANK KITS F?98Wi[ZMWj[hJWdaB[l[bC[j[hA_j
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KC-5460 £46.75 plus postage & packing
KC-5462 £45.25 plus postage & packing
This PIC-based unit uses a pressure sensor to monitor water level WdZm_bbZ_ifbWojWdab[l[bl_WWdH=8B;:Wjj^[fh[iie\WXkjjed$ The kit can be expanded to include and optional wireless remote display panel that can monitor up to ten i[fWhWj[jWdai A9#+*,' ehoekYWd A9#+*,& add a wireless remote controlled cW_difem[him_jY^ A9#+*,( je control remote water pumps. Kit includes electronic components, case, screen fh_dj[ZF98WdZfh[iikh[i[dieh$
Commercial remote control mains switches are available but these are generally limited to a range of less than 20m. This UHF system will operate up to 200m and is perfect for remote power control systems etc. The switch can be activated using the included hand held controller. A_jikffb_[Zm_j^YWi["iYh[[dfh_dj[ZF98"H< modules and all electronic A9#+*,( components.
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POST & PACKING CHARGES Order Value Cost £10 - £49.99 £5 £50 - £99.99 £10 £100 - £199.99 £20 £200 - £499.99 £30 £500+ £40 Max weight 12lb (5kg) Heavier parcels POA Minimum order £10
Note: Products are despatched from Australia, so local customs duty & taxes may apply. 7bbfh_Y_d]_d FekdZiIj[hb_d] C_d_ckcehZ[h'& Prices valid until 30/4/2011
Dej[0 H[gk_h[i UK mains socket or adaptor
>EMJEEH:;H WEB: PHONE: FAX: ;C7?B0 POST:
www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk 0800 032 7241* +61 2 8832 3118* j[Y^ijeh[6`WoYWh[b[Yjhed_Yi$Ye$ka P.O. Box 107, Rydalmere NSW 2116 Australia *Australian Eastern Standard Time CedZWo#
Order online: www.jaycarelectronics .co.uk jaycarelectronics.co.uk
B;:87JJ;HOLEBJ7=;?D:?97JEH KA-1778 £3.75 plus postage & packing This tiny circuit measures just 25mm x 25mm and will provide power indication and low voltage indication using a bi-colour LED. The LED will be green when above the set point & red when below. The set point is adjustable using a trim-pot. The Y_hYk_j_iik_jWXb[\eh[gk_fc[dj fem[h[Z\hec,#)&L:9$M_j^ a simple circuit change, the bi-colour LED will produce a red glow to indicate that the voltage has exceeded the value. F98"X_#YebekhB;:WdZWbbif[Y_\_[Z electronic components supplied
'&7:9CEJEHIF;;:9EDJHEBB;H KC-5225 £11.50 plus postage & packing Ideal for controlling 12VDC motors in cars such as fuel injection pumps, water/air intercoolers and water injection systems. You can also use it for headlight dimming and for running 12V DC motors in 24V vehicles. The circuit incorporates a soft start feature to reduce inrush currents, especially on 12V incandescent lamps. Includes F98WdZWbb[b[Yjhed_YYecfed[djijeXk_bZ'&7l[hi_ed$ F98:_c[di_edi0,/n+'cc EkjfkjYWd_dYh[Wi[je(&7m_j^[njhWCEI<;J available separately ZT-2450 £4.50
IB787JJ;HO>;7BJ>9>;9A;HA?J KC-5482 £29.00 plus postage & packing The first versions of the battery zapper included a checker circuit. The Mk III battery zapper (KC-5479) has a separate checker circuit - and this is it. It checks the health of SLA batteries prior to charging or zapping with a simple LED condition indication of fair, poor, good etc. El[hbWoF98WdZ electronic components 9Wi[m_j^cWY^_d[ZWdZi_ba# screened front panel F98:_c[di_edi0 185 x 101mm
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Editorial Offices: EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS EDITORIAL Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1UU Phone: (01202) 880299. Fax: (01202) 843233. Email:
[email protected] Website: www.epemag.com See notes on Readers’ Technical Enquiries below – we regret technical enquiries cannot be answered over the telephone. THE UK’S NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY & COMPUTER PROJECTS Advertisement Offices: Everyday Practical Electronics Advertisements 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1UU Phone: 01202 880299 Fax: 01202 843233 Email:
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SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABILITY Copies of EPE are available on subscription anywhere in the world (see opposite) and from all UK newsagents (distributed by SEYMOUR). EPE can also be purchased from retail magazine outlets around the world. An Internet online version can be purchased and downloaded for just $19.99US (approx £13) per year, available from www.epemag.com
Atomic clock accuracy hanging on your kitchen wall!
NEW, IMPROVED THEREMIN Modern update of the classic electronic instrument Internal speaker and line out options Includes versatile ‘voicing’ controls Output over five octaves
Low-cost Digital Audio Millivoltmeter Displays millivolts, dBV and dBm
Teach-In 2011 – Part 5
Online subscriptions, for downloading the magazine via the Internet, $19.99US (approx £13) for one year available from www.epemag.com. Cheques or bank drafts (in £ sterling only) payable to Everyday Practical Electronics and sent to EPE Subs. Dept., Wimborne Publishing Ltd. 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU. Tel: 01202 880299. Fax: 01202 843233. Email: subs@epemag. wimborne.co.uk. Also via the Web at: www.epemag. com. Subscriptions start with the next available issue. We accept MasterCard, Maestro or Visa. (For past issues see the Back Issues page.)
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MARCH 2011 £3.95
Our not-to-be-missed introduction to the classic analogue IC – the op amp
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
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VOL. 40 No. 4 APRIL 2011 Editor: MATT PULZER Consulting Editor: DAVID BARRINGTON Subscriptions: MARILYN GOLDBERG General Manager: FAY KEARN Editorial/Admin: (01202) 880299 Advertising and Business Manager: STEWART KEARN (01202) 880299 On-line Editor: ALAN WINSTANLEY EPE Online (Internet version) Editors: CLIVE (Max) MAXFIELD and ALVIN BROWN Publisher: MIKE KENWARD READERS’ TECHNICAL ENQUIRIES Email:
[email protected] We are unable to offer any advice on the use, purchase, repair or modification of commercial equipment or the incorporation or modification of designs published in the magazine. We regret that we cannot provide data or answer queries on articles or projects that are more than five years’ old. Letters requiring a personal reply must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope or a self-addressed envelope and international reply coupons. We are not able to answer technical queries on the phone. PROJECTS AND CIRCUITS All reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that the advice and data given to readers is reliable. We cannot, however, guarantee it and we cannot accept legal responsibility for it. A number of projects and circuits published in EPE employ voltages that can be lethal. You should not build, test, modify or renovate any item of mains-powered equipment unless you fully understand the safety aspects involved and you use an RCD adaptor. COMPONENT SUPPLIES We do not supply electronic components or kits for building the projects featured, these can be supplied by advertisers. We advise readers to check that all parts are still available before commencing any project in a back-dated issue. ADVERTISEMENTS Although the proprietors and staff of EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS take reasonable precautions to protect the interests of readers by ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements are bona fide, the magazine and its publishers cannot give any undertakings in respect of statements or claims made by advertisers, whether these advertisements are printed as part of the magazine, or in inserts. The Publishers regret that under no circumstances will the magazine accept liability for non-receipt of goods ordered, or for late delivery, or for faults in manufacture. TRANSMITTERS/BUGS/TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT We advise readers that certain items of radio transmitting and telephone equipment which may be advertised in our pages cannot be legally used in the UK. Readers should check the law before buying any transmitting or telephone equipment, as a fine, confiscation of equipment and/or imprisonment can result from illegal use or ownership. The laws vary from country to country; readers should check local laws.
7
NEWS A roundup of the latest Everyday News from the world of electronics
Avid editing – updates by Barry Fox vid changed the face of professional A video and movie editing, and now wants to do the same for consumer editing with the worldwide launch this spring of a ‘completely new development’ called Avid Studio. This puts Avid in direct competition with itself, because after a series of company acquisitions Avid now services 13 million worldwide users of the consumer editing software package, Pinnacle Studio. To harden the internal competition, Avid is launching new versions of the Pinnacle Studio just ahead of Avid Studio. Through the 1990s, Avid’s computer software moved the studio industry from cutting celluloid film to switching digital bitstreams. They bought Digidesign for its Pro Tools audio editing software, M-Audio for electronic musical instruments and Sibelius for computer scoring of all types of music. Avid acquired Pinnacle Systems in 2005 and is now releasing Version 15, with UK prices ranging between £60 and £100. Avid Studio follows in March, by download, and boxed for retail sale in April, at around £140.
Avid studio ‘Avid Studio is a totally new category with a more modern feel. The engine has changed’, says Wolfgang Schranz, European consumer sales manager. ‘It’s for Windows only, but there is no XP support; and there won’t be a Mac version’. It uses a new editing engine and new file format to get a different look and feel, and offers features that cannot be built into Pinnacle software. It was clear from
pre-launch demonstrations given at Avid’s European HQ in Pinewood Studios near London that the demonstrators were still getting to grips with the new software. Key new features include an archiving option, which gathers all the source files from all sources, and collates them into a single archiving file; so a half-finished project can be completed later, or on the move, without the need to access all the original source file locations. There is improved chromakey support for green screen effects, with a matching green backdrop boxed with the software. The user can create an unlimited number of audio and video tracks for building sound and vision effects. Avid Studio can also create and mix 5.1 surround. Tracks can be imported from a 5.1 camcorder or created by editing and then exported as Dolby Digital 5.1 for DVD or BluRay burning. Neither Pinnacle Ver. 15 nor Avid Studio support 3-D editing. Says Schranz, ‘There is no 3-D support at the moment. We have it in our professional products, but at the moment we can’t see a market for consumer software. Consumer 3D is at a very early stage. It is too early to see a clear trend. We cannot yet see a market for it. But, of course, we will listen to the market and react.’ Schranz admits that Avid now has a difficult marketing job on its hands, with 13 million Pinnacle users worldwide and none so far for Avid. ‘Avid Studio is for aspirational users’, he says. There will be an upgrade
offering from Pinnacle to Avid, but the price is not yet fixed.
Pinewood celebration Pinewood Studios, where Avid is based, is 75 years old this year. The controlling company now also owns Shepperton and Teddington studios in the UK and sister complexes in Berlin, Hamburg and Torronto. Pinewood started with four sound stages, and now has 34. The most famous is the huge 007 sound stage, where most of the Bond movies have been shot. Re-built after a fire in 2006, it now has a floor space of 59,000 square feet and is the largest in Europe. Nearby, a stone-walled, open-air area the size of a football pitch can be flooded for sea sequences. It holds a million gallons and takes a week to fill and empty. A tall green screen wall at one end helped sink Venice in Casino Royale. Nearby, the indoor underwater stage tank is six metres deep, with sets either built under water by divers or created with green screen effects. The tank is never drained, and the water kept clear and at a constant temperature of 32ºC. Filming is by underwater cameras in waterproof housings, operated by frogmen divers. Where fish are needed they are kept in a submerged tank. Despite advances in digital effects, under water live shooting is still routinely used because it is still hard to create a realistic wet effect on dry materials, hair and fabrics. Unlike studios in Hollywood and Florida, Pinewood offers no public tours.
Data, data, data everywhere! ur ravenous hunger for data, O and the need to store it has been measured by researchers. A study, published in the journal Science, added up all the data stored in the world by 2007 and calculated 295 exabytes – an exabyte is a billion gigabytes, or a trillion megabytes. The researchers reached this figure by estimating the amount of data held on 60 technologies, from PCs and DVDs to paper adverts and books. They calculated that if this information was stored on CDs then it would produce a pile of discs that would extend to beyond the moon.
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The data survey covered the ‘information revolution’, when societies moved into the digital age, swapping ‘analogue formats’ such as compact cassettes, and traditional print for digital music and the Internet. The rate of change in the move to digital storage has been rapid. In 2000, 75% of stored information was still in an analogue format, such as video cassette tape. However, by 2007, 94% of it was digital. The study pinpoints the arrival of the digital age at 2002, the first year when digital storage capacity overtook analogue capacity. Not surprisingly, the biggest source of all these ones and zeroes is digital computing.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
mobile operating system have caused the Finnish mobile giant to look for strategic partners. Nokia still makes a third of all mobile phones sold worldwide, but took just 12% of profits in the fourth quarter of 2010. Apple, on the other hand, shipped only 4% of devices to the mobile market, but achieved an extraordinary 50% of all profits. Not bad for a company that hadn’t even sold a phone till 2007. As if the threat from Apple was not bad enough, Nokia now faces stiff comNokia President and CEO Stephen Elop (left) links up with petition from devices runMicrosoft CEO Steven Ballmer ning Android, which runs nce the undisputed leader of mobile on a third of all smartphones sold at the phone technology, Nokia has found end of 2010. Nokia’s phones currently use itself in retreat for the last couple of years. the Symbian operating system, which has The key problem for Nokia lies in the luproved much less popular than those from crative ‘smartphone’ market, where much either Apple (iOS) or Google. of the industry’s growth and profit is found. To get back into the smartphone race, Newcomers Apple, with their iPhone and Nokia has turned to Microsoft, and toGoogle’s increasingly popular Android gether they have announced plans to form
a broad strategic partnership that would use their complementary strengths and expertise to create a new global mobile ecosystem. Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create mobile products and services. Under the proposed partnership: s .OKIA WILL ADOPT 7INDOWS 0HONE AS ITS principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging s .OKIA WILL HELP DRIVE THE FUTURE OF 7INdows Phone, contributing its expertise in hardware design, language support, and HELP BRING 7INDOWS 0HONE TO A LARGER range of markets s -ICROSOFTS "ING WILL POWER .OKIAS search services across Nokia devices and services s .OKIA -APS WILL BE A CORE PART OF -Icrosoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps will be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to provide local search and advertising s -ICROSOFT DEVELOPMENT TOOLS WILL BE USED to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones
Businesses thrive with clouds and satellites
Smart projection
Nokia calls Microsoft
O
TMicroelectronics and bTendo Ltd S have announced that they will jointly develop the world’s smallest ‘pico projec-
is no surprise to learn that digital techIbuttnology plays an important role in business, two areas that are especially important play an unexpectedly large role in driving commerce across developed economies. A report on the BBC revealed that 6% to 7% of EU GDP depends on satellite navigation. Using an American study, and extrapolating the results to the European economy, the EU Commission has estimated that 800bn euros of business directly uses satellite navigation. The industrial sectors most reliant on sat-nav technology are: Delivery services rely on GPS nearly 100% because fleet management and parcel tracking by sat-nav is used by all freight forwarders and couriers. Utilities and their transmission and distribution networks (eg, electricity grids) rely on sat-nav timing for synchronisation. Banking and finance, where up to a third of this type of business uses the accuracy of GPS time to ‘time stamp’ big transactions. Agriculture increasingly depends on GPS in areas such as ‘precision agriculture’, where field management (eg, spraying or harvesting) on large European farms is carried out with the assistance of GPS in the tractor or the cabin of a combine harvester. Communications systems in the form of smartphones almost universally include a GPS chip, for which a host of uses from basic map reading to locating a new restaurant are becoming more and more popular.
Cloud computing For IT decision makers, cloud computing is increasingly creating new business
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
opportunities. In this case, the clouds are most definitely not water-based, but offsite servers that store and back-up software and data, and provide computational power. All a user needs is an ordinary Internet-linked PC to access much more powerful and robust computational resources. In a survey carried out by Microsoft, IT planners in financial services, manufacturing, professional services, and retail and hospitality saw cloud computing as an opportunity to grow their business, drive innovation and strategy, and efficiently collaborate across geographies. The key in all these examples was allowing access to data from anywhere. Microsoft found that cloud computing has two big advantages: it lets small businesses act like big businesses, giving them the opportunity to use IT resources that might otherwise be beyond their budgets; and it lets big businesses move quickly and cheaply with the speed and nimbleness of a small business. For big businesses, there is also an opportunity to innovate at a lower cost with multiple options rather than having to sink all of their chips into a single, big capital cost option. ‘Clouds’ are not just for businesses, big or small. Companies such as Apple offer a cloud-based system for individuals, which lets users access their email, calendar/diary, address book, photo collection and other resources from any Internet-connected computer. Apple’s Mobile Me is available on an annual subscription basis: £45 for an individual user and £76 for a family pack.
tor’ for smartphones and other portable consumer-electronics devices. The solution is based on bTendo’s innovative scanning laser projection engine technology and ST’s MEMS (micro-electro mechanical systems) expertise, video processing know-how and semiconductor process technology. The large memory capacity of today’s advanced smartphones means that people carry huge amounts of movie clips and photos in their pockets, yet find it difficult to share it with others due to phone’s tiny displays. Adding projection capabilities into the mobile devices will enable users to easily share their media with others – any place, on any surface, at any time. Less than 2.5cm3 in volume and under 6mm high, the jointly developed embedded projector will offer a focus-free, vivid, sharp and crisp image, superior to current pico projection solutions. Implementing two MEMS-based micro-mirror-actuation devices within the system’s optical engine, and an advanced video-processing chip, the world’s smallest projection engine will be optimised for smart phones, offering low power consumption and built-in support for MIPI (mobile industry processor interface) to ensure swift and easy integration.
If you have some breaking news you would like to share with our readers, then please email:
[email protected]
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Here’s a voice recorder design that can be set up easily to record two, four or eight different messages for random-access playback or a single message for ‘tape mode’ playback. Also, it provides clean and glitch-free line-level audio output suitable for FEEDINGªANªAMPLIlERª or PA system. It can be powered from any source of 9-14V DC.
By JIM ROWE
45-second Voice Recorder Module 10
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
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OLID-STATE voice recorders are popular projects. They can be used in all sorts of applications where messages or sounds need to be recorded and played back reliably under either manual or micro control. Such projects often have annoying limitations – for example, they can only be used to record and play back one long message or a number of short messages in sequential ‘tape recorder’ fashion. Such design limitations are often unnecessary, because the recorder chips used are typically capable of recording and playing back up to eight messages in ‘random access’ mode. Another common limitation is that the playback sound quality can be fairly noisy, and each message played might be accompanied by an irritating ‘click’ ATTHESTARTANDÚNISH Reader feedback revealed another limitation: older modules have been designed to operate from a 6V battery, whereas many people wanted to use a nominal 12V DC source.
Design concept It was with these limitations in mind that we decided to develop the sound recorder module described here. It’s based on the HK828 chip, with the rest of the circuit designed to alLOW ÛEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF MESSAGE storage and to provide much cleaner and click-free playback audio. Finally, the circuit can run from any source of DC between 9V and 14V. The HK828 chip has the ability to store single or multiple messages with
a total length of between 40 and 60 seconds, depending on the sampling rate and the voice quality you want. In this recorder module, the chip is teamed up with a low-cost electret microphone insert to allow easy message recording, plus an LM358 dual op amp IC, which allows the recorded messages to be played back as a line-level audio signal, available for feeding an EXTERNALAMPLIÚERANDSPEAKER
Getting the message We’ve given this module a set of ‘jumper links’, so that it can be easily CONÚGURED TO RECORD AND PLAY BACK messages in any of four modes: either two, four or eight messages in random access mode, or one or more messages in sequential access ‘tape mode’. Another link allows the HK828 chip’s message start ‘beeps’ to be enabled or disabled, as you wish. All message selection, record and play functions are controlled externally, via connections to a row of screw terminals along the side of the module. All functions are enabled by switches or logic signals. This makes it easy to record or play back messages using a set of pushbuttons and a switch, or under the control of a PC, microcontroller or security system if you prefer. The HK828 voice recorder chip is available from Jaycar Electronics in the UK (see their advert in this issue), and kits for the recorder module will also be available from them (Cat. No. KC5454).
How it works The HK828 chip forms the functional heart of the recorder module, therefore you need to have a rough idea of what goes on inside this chip in order to understand how the recorder works. Fig.1 shows the chip’s basic architecture. First, the chip includes a high-gain microphone preamp so that it can be driven directly by a low-cost electret microphone insert. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit follows the preamp, to ensure that good quality recordings can be made without any need for manual gain adjustment, despite input signal level variations. The output of the AGC circuit is not connected directly to the chip’s recording circuitry, but is brought out to the ‘Aout’ pin instead. This is linked to the ‘Ain’ pin by the user, to record messages from the microphone. This arrangement allows the chip to be used to record from line-level signals in other applications. Since the main part of the HK828 records by a process of sampling the audio signals fed into it via the Ain pin, it needs to pass these signals THROUGH A LOW PASS ÚLTER BEFORE THE sampling. This is done to prevent distortion caused by sampling aliases, HENCETHElANTI ALIASINGmÚLTERBETWEEN the ‘Ain’ input and the sample and hold circuit block. Now, although the audio is sampled inside the HK828, this is done using an analogue sample-and-hold system, rather than the more common digital
Reproduced by arrangement with SILICON CHIP magazine 2011. www.siliconchip.com.au
Fig.1: the block diagram of the HK828 voice recorder chip. While the recording process relies on audio sampling, the audio is not stored digitally, but uses an analogue sample-andhold system. The analogue samples are stored in the cells of a 256K Flash EEPROM. Each analogue storage cell can store any of 256 different voltage levels, making it equivalent to an 8-bit digital recording.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
UE
UE
Constructional Project sampling system. It stores the samples in an array of 262,144 (256K) Flash EEPROM analogue storage cells, each of which can store any of 256 different voltage levels. This gives the equivalent of 8-bit digital recording.
Sampling rate The capacity of the storage array means that the HK828 can store a total of 256K samples. How long a recorded message this gives depends on the sampling rate that’s used. For example, if the sample rate is 8000 samples per second, 256K samples will correspond to a total message length of just over 32 seconds (262,144/8000). However, if you sample at 4200 samples/second, the 256K samples will give a total message length of just over 62 seconds (262,144/4200). 4HERECORDINGBANDWIDTHORlÚDELITYm is directly proportional to the sampling rate. So, if you sample at 4200 samples/ second, the recording bandwidth will be just over 2kHz, whereas sampling at 8000 samples/second gives a bandwidth of just on 4kHz. Choosing the sampling rate is therefore a compromise: the lower the sampling, rate the longer the recording time, but the lower the audio bandwidth. Conversely, the higher the sampling rate the higher the bandwidth, but the shorter the recording time. The HK828 chip has an internal sampling rate clock oscillator, as well as an input for an optional external clock. Either clock signal can be fed to the sample and hold circuit via the multiplexer (MUX), to control the sampling. The frequency of the internal oscillator is set by varying the value of an external resistor connected between the ‘OscR’ pin and ground. This circuit uses a 47k: resistor, which sets the sampling rate to about 5800 samples/ second. This gives a message recording time of about 45 seconds and a bandwidth of about 2.9kHz, for reasonable voice-quality recording. As shown in Fig.1, the recording and playback of samples in the storage array is controlled by analogue write and read circuits, along with the message control and message decoding circuits. When a message is being played back, the signals pass through another lowPASSÚLTERTOREMOVESAMPLINGNOISE and are then fed to the inbuilt output AMPLIÚER
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The rest of the circuitry inside the HK828 chip is used for overall device control, mode switching and so on.
Circuit details The complete circuit details for the Multi-Message Voice Recorder is shown in Fig.2. As shown, signals from the electret microphone insert are coupled into the MICin input of the HK828 (pin 17) via a 100nF coupling capacitor. Another 100nF capacitor is used to tie the preamp’s second MICref input (pin 18) to ground, to provide maximum gain. The 4.7μF capacitor and 220k: resistor connected between pin 19 and ground are used to optimise the chip’s AGC attack and decay charACTERISTICS FOR SPEECH 4HE AMPLIÚED audio from the mic preamp and AGC circuit appears at pin 21 (Aout), which is coupled directly to pin 20 (Ain) via another 100nF capacitor. As mentioned earlier, the internal sampling oscillator frequency is set to 5.8kHz by the 47k:resistor connected to ground from pin 7 (OscR). Setting the HK828 into record or playback modes is achieved by an external switch or logic signal connected to the RecEnable terminal, which connects to the chip’s RE pin (27). The terminal is pulled to ground for record mode or allowed to rise to logic high level (+5V) for playback mode. Note that when the terminal is pulled down to ground for record mode, this also allows transistor Q1 to draw base current ANDTURNONqALLOWINGCURRENTTOÛOW through LED2, the record mode indicator. Link LK1 is used to enable or disable the HK828’s message-starting ‘beep’, by changing the logic level at pin 11 (‘Beep Enable’). Similarly, links LK2 and LK3 are used to set the desired message recording and playback mode, as shown in the small table on the circuit diagram.
Message recording To record a message in one of the random access modes, all that needs to be done is to pull down the RecEnable line to force the chip into recording mode, and then pull down one of the message-select lines (eg, M1Enable or M2Enable) using an external pushbutton or a logic signal from a PC or microcontroller. The message select line must be held down for the duration of the message
Parts List – Multi-message Voice Recorder 1 PC board, code 797, available from the EPE PCB Service, size 119mm × 57mm 1 electret microphone insert 3 3-way terminal blocks, PC mounting 1 2-way terminal block, PC mounting 3 2-pin sections of SIL header strip 3 jumper shunts 1 28-pin DIL IC socket, 15.24mm spacing 1 8-pin DIL IC socket, 7.62mm spacing 1 2.5mm concentric DC power plug, PC mounting (CON1) 1 audio phono socket, PC mounting (CON2) Semiconductors 1 HK828 voice recorder IC (IC1) 1 LM358 dual op amp (IC2) 1 78L05 +5V regulator (REG1) 1 PN200 PNP transistor (Q1) 1 5mm green LED (LED1) 1 5mm red LED (LED2) 1 1N4004 1A diode (D1) Capacitors 1 2200μF 16V radial elect. 1 220μF 16V radial elect. 1 22μF 16V radial elect. 1 10μF 16V radial elect. 1 4.7μF 25V tag tantalum 1 220nF 100V MKT metallised polyester 5 100nF 100V MKT metallised polyester 1 100nF multilayer monolithic ceramic 1 150pF disc ceramic Resistors (0.25W 1%) 1 220k: 1 470k: 2 100k: 8 47k: 9 22k: 2 10k: 2 1k: 2 680: 1 100: 1 47:
Where from? A kit is only available from Jaycar Electronics, who also hold the copyright on the design and PC board. Kits will be available from Jaycar Electronics (Cat no KC-5454).
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
10k
LK3
220k
100nF
47k
47k
100nF
LK1
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AGC
Ain
Aout
MICref
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MSEL2
MSEL1
IC1 HK828
VssD 13
VssA 12
SP+
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M2
M3
M4
M5
M6
M7
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STROBE
VccD
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OUT IN IN
IN OUT
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(TAPE MODE)
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22k
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Fig.2: Most of the circuit action takes place in the HK828 voice storage chip (IC1). IC2, the LM358 dual op amp, performs a balanced-to-unbalanced conversion of the output from the (+ªANDªTHENªPROVIDESªAªBUFFEREDªOUTPUTªWHICHªCANªBEªFEDªTOªANªAUDIOªAMPLIlERªANDªLOUDSPEAKER
2007
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LINK1: IN = BEEP DISABLED OUT = BEEP ENABLED
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+
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recording; recording ends when the line is allowed to rise high again. To play the recorded message, the RecEnable line is allowed to rise high again, and the message select line for the message you want to replay pulled down again for about 400ms. The playback audio emerges in push-pull (ie, anti-phase) fashion from pin 14 and pin 15 of the HK828, the SP+ and SP– pins, and is connected to a 100: load resistor. The signals are fed via 100nF capacitors to a balanced-to-unbalanced matching stage using IC2b, one half of an LM358 dual op amp. This effectively adds the two signals together, and cancels out the ‘commonmode pedestal’ signal that appears with them on both outputs. As a result, the output audio signal at pin 7 of op amp IC2b is clean and ‘glitch free’. This is then passed through op amp IC2a, connected as a voltage follower/buffer and then fed to the line-level audio output socket. All of this part of the circuit operates from +5V DC from REG1, an LM78L05 regulator. We are able to use a low power regulator because the total current drain is quite low: about 4mA in standby mode, rising to about 45mA when a message is actually being played or recorded. There’s one remaining point which should be mentioned about the circuit. You’ll note that the HK828 chip is provided with a ChipEnable pin (pin 23), which in this circuit is pulled down to earth via a 47k: resistor – so the chip is enabled by default. However, the ChipEnable line is also brought out to a terminal, to allow you to apply a logic high (+5V) to this
❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
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No. 1 1 2 8 9 2 2 2 1 1
Value 470k: 220k: 100k: 47k: 22k: 10k: 1k: 680: 100: 47:
Fig.3: the same-size component overlay matches the photograph at right – between the two there should be no construction problems.
The location and orientation of all components on the board can be seen in the overlay diagram of Fig.3, and also in the matching photo of the module. 3TART BOARD ASSEMBLY BY ÚTTING THE four screw terminal blocks, then the DC input and audio output sockets. Follow these with the two IC sockets, the three Construction 2-pin headers for links LK1 to LK3 and All of the components used in THESHORTWIRELINK WHICHÚTSJUSTNEAR THE 6OICE 2ECORDER MODULE ÚT ON A the end of the 28-pin IC socket. After compact PC board, coded 797, meas- THIS YOUCANÚTTHERESISTORSANDSMALLER uring 119mm × 57mm. This board is non-polarised capacitors. available from the EPE PCB Service. Next come the 4.7μF tantalum and The board can be mounted inside a the electrolytic capacitors, which are standard UB3-size plastic box. ALL POLARISED SO MAKE SURE YOU ÚT Since all of the screw terminals and them with the orientation shown in connectors are along one side of the the diagram. board, they will all be accessible via Now you’ll be ready to fit the a slot or series of holes along that side semiconductor parts. These are also of the box. Only three holes will be polarised, so make sure you follow needed in the box lid: two 5mm holes the diagram carefully as a guide to for LED1 and LED2, and a larger hole THEIR ORIENTATION &IT DIODE $ ÚRST to allow sound to reach the electret then transistor Q1 and the two LEDs, mic insert. followed by regulator REG1. .OW ÚT THE ELECTRET MIC insert. This has only two wire Resistor Colour Codes leads, but it is polarised, so do check the back of the insert to make sure which lead 4-Band Code (1%) 5-Band Code (1%) connects to the metal body of yellow purple yellow brown yellow purple black orange brown the insert. This is the negative red red yellow brown red red black orange brown lead, which must be conbrown black yellow brown brown black black orange brown nected to the ‘earthy’ outer yellow purple orange brown yellow purple black red brown pad under the board. The other lead is the positive lead. red red orange brown red red black red brown Finally, plug the LM358 op brown black orange brown brown black black red brown amp IC2 into its 8-pin socket brown black red brown brown black black brown brown and the larger HK828 chip blue grey brown brown blue grey black black brown IC1 into its 28-pin socket. brown black brown brown brown black black black brown Make sure they’re both orientated as shown in Fig.3. Your yellow purple black brown yellow purple black gold brown line if you want to disable the chip for any reason. You might want to do this if you have a microcontroller or PC controlling a number of the modules, in which case it will need to be able to select between them using their ChipEnable lines.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
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Team this little module with a small audio AMPLIlER ªTOªPROVIDEªAªGREATªRANGEªOFªSOUNDªEFFECTSª FORªAªMODELªRAILWAYªLAYOUT ªFORªEXAMPLEª)TªHASªTHEª ABILITYªTOªSTOREªUPªTOªEIGHTªDIFFERENTª@SOUNDªGRABS ªWHICHªCOULDªBEªSWITCHEDªTOª DIFFERENTªPARTSªOFªTHEªLAYOUTªASªTRAINSªPASSªTHROUGHªSTATIONS
Multi-Message Voice Recorder should now be complete and ready to go.
Trying it out To check that your recorder is WORKINGCORRECTLY ÚRSTDECIDEWHICH message mode you want to use it in, and then place jumper shunts on link headers LK1, LK2 and LK3 to set the module for that mode of operation. (Use the Table in Fig.2 as a guide.) Connect a small toggle switch and one pushbutton switch (for each message you want to select) to the appropriate screw terminals of the module, as shown in Fig.4. For now, switch the toggle switch off, which corresponds to message playback mode. The audio output of the module can now be connected to the line input of ANYSUITABLEAUDIOAMPLIÚER4HENYOU can connect its DC power input to a source of 9V to 14V DC. At this stage, neither of the LEDs should light, but you may hear a small turn-on ‘plop’ from the speaker conNECTEDTOTHEEXTERNALAMPLIÚER)FYOU wish you can use a digital multimeter TOCONÚRMTHATTHESUPPLYVOLTAGEAT PINOF)#ISVERYCLOSETO 6 RELATIVETOTHEMODULEmSEARTHTERMINAL
Capacitor Codes Value μF Code IEC Code EIA Code 220nF 0.22μF 220n 224 100nF 0.1μF 100n 104 150pF n/a 150p 151
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Now switch the external toggle switch on, pulling the RecEnable line down to earth potential. This should switch the module into Record mode, so LED2 SHOULDBEGINGLOWING)FITDOESNmTBEGIN GLOWING YOUEITHERHAVETHE$#POWER POLARITYREVERSED OR,%$ÚTTEDTOTHE board the wrong way around.)
Record/replay Next, press one of the message select pushbuttons – say MSG1 in Fig.4. While holding it down, begin talking into the electret mic to record your test message. As you speak, you’ll notice that the GREEN 3TROBE ,%$ ,%$ IS ÛASHING Keep talking until you reach the end of your message or until LED1 stops ÛASHINGWHICHINDICATESTHATRECORDING has stopped automatically, because you HAVEREACHEDTHEENDOFTHATSEGMENTOF the HK828’s memory). Then release the pushbutton. To replay the recorded message, turn the toggle switch off to swing the MODULE INTO 0LAY MODE AND BRIEÛY press the message pushbutton again, BUTTHISTIMEONLYBRIEÛYBECAUSEIN Play mode, the message buttons only trigger the replay operation. Your recorded message should then be replayed through the exterNALAMPLIÚERANDSPEAKER)FITDOES your Multi-Message Voice Recorder is working correctly and should now be ready for use.
Changing message length As mentioned earlier, the total message length stored in the HK828 chip’s
memory is determined by the sampling rate, which is set by the resistor connected from pin 7 of the chip (OscR) to ground. The 47k:VALUESHOWNFORTHISRESISTORINTHECIRCUITANDOVERLAYDIAGRAM GIVESASAMPLINGRATEOFSAMPLES second, resulting in a total message LENGTH OF SECONDS AND AN AUDIO bandwidth of about 2.9kHz. We picked this as a reasonable compromise between message length and recording quality, but you can experiMENTWITHTHEVALUEOFTHISRESISTORTO TRYLONGERSHORTERRECORDINGTIMESAND NARROWERWIDERAUDIOBANDWIDTH For example, if you change the resisTORVALUETOK:, this will lower the SAMPLINGRATETOABOUTSAMPLES SECOND AND GIVE A TOTAL RECORDING TIMEOFJUSTONSECONDS(OWEVER the audio bandwidth will also drop to around 2kHz, so the played-back MESSAGES WILLSOUNDRATHERlMUFÛEDm – a bit like talking through a wet sock! On the other hand, if you lower THE RESISTOR VALUE TO K:, this will increase the sampling rate to about SAMPLESSECOND AND DROP THE recording time to just on 32 seconds. (OWEVER THE RECORDING QUALITY WILL IMPROVE ASTHEAUDIOBANDWIDTHWILL increase to about 4kHz. So, experiment by all means, and SETTLEONTHERESISTORVALUEYOUDECIDE GIVES THE BEST COMBINATION OF TOTAL message length and acceptable audio quality for your application.
Changing message mode As noted earlier, header links LK2 and LK3 on the board can change the module’s message access mode. For example, with a jumper shunt ÚTTEDTO,+BUTREMOVEDFROM,+ the module will be able to record and play two messages (each using half the HK828’s memory space). You’ll only need two external pushbuttons to select one of these messages: MSG1 and MSG2, along with the 2ECORD0LAYTOGGLESWITCH )FYOUWANTTORECORDANDPLAYFOUR MESSAGES REMOVE THE JUMPER SHUNT from LK2 and place one on LK3 instead. You’ll now need four external PUSHBUTTONS AS WELL AS THE 2ECORD Play toggle switch: MSG1, MSG2, MSG3 and MSG4. Note that in this case, each message will be able to use one quarter of the HK828’s memory.
15
Constructional Project
Leave the jumper shunts off both LK2 and LK3 if you want to record and play any of eight short messages (each using one eighth of the HK828’s memory). You’ll now need all eight external pushbuttons MSG1 to MSG8, along with the Record/Play toggle switch. 4HE LAST OPTION IS TO ÚT JUMPER shunts to both LK2 and LK3, which sets the module for ‘tape mode’ operation. In this mode, you normally only need one external pushbutton (MSG1), because the HK828 records and plays back either one message or a sequence of messages, using all of its memory space. That’s it then – an easy-to-build solid-state Multi-Message Voice Recorder module that can be used for all kinds of applications, especially those involving sending pre-recorded MESSAGES OVER AN AMPLIÚER OR 0! system under the control of a PC or microcontroller. EPE Fig.4: Staying with the model rail theme, you could use reed relays or other switches to play back the sound grabs when the train triggers them or they are switched by the operator. If the sound grabs are played in different locations, YOUªWILLªNEEDªADDITIONALªSPEAKERSªANDªRELAYSªTOªSWITCHªTHEMªTOªTHEªAMPLIlER
Reproduced by arrangement with SILICON CHIP magazine 2011. www.siliconchip.com.au
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16
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Decoding The Heavens
Mark Nelson
This month we’re looking skywards for inspiration, triggered by the Planet Jupiter radio receiver featured in last September’s issue. Mark would like to dig deeper into radio astronomy (and radio astrology!) and explain the fascination of this activity, and the role electronic hobbyists can play in this area. Another allure covered this time is the music of the magnetosphere that is inaudible to most people.
T
HE easy-to-build Planet Jupiter Receiver (Sept ’10) must have surprised many readers by how easily (and cheaply) a normal professional electronicist can get into a study area that most people consider the preserve of practised scientists. But as the article explained, you don’t need a PhD to carry out ‘real’ radio astronomy, nor do you have to build a steerable dish the size of Jodrell Bank in your back garden. You don’t even need a lab full of fancy equipment either, a PC and modified shortwave receiver (and wire dipole antenna) is all you need to start.
Is the bug biting? If you’re tempted by listening to the sky and would like to read more, there’s plenty on the WWW. Take a look at the UK Amateur Radio Astronomy website at: www.uka ranet.org.uk/ and NASA’s Basics of Radio Astronomy guide at: www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ radioastronomy. There’s also a Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (www.radioastronomy.org) and well, I’ll let you Google for more. You can find useful help in books too. The RSGB (Britain’s ‘ham’ radio organisation) publishes a very comprehensive tome called Amateur Radio Astronomy; it has no equivalent elsewhere. Full of practical projects, it also explains how hobbyists have contributed to the science of radio astronomy (get it direct from: www.rsgbshop.org). Another book that I would recommend for its enthusiasm and straightforward explanation is Frank Hyde’s Radio Astronomy For Amateurs. Although it was published nearly 40 years ago, and the circuits are nearly all valve-based, the theory is still entirely valid. Try asking your local library to obtain it for you through interlibrary loan or else you may be lucky enough to find it second-hand at a realistic price (the book is highly sought after now).
5378 2011-03-15 10:12:57
Radio astrology too? I don’t know about you, but it always amuses me the way my local branch of WHSmith places astrology magazines next to Astronomy Now, Sky At Night and Sky & Telescope. This must really annoy the ‘serious’ astronomers. But I thought I’d do a quick Google to see if anyone was using radio to work out astral predictions. Reassuringly, there is a website: www. radioastrology.com, but my satisfaction was tempered somewhat when I discovered it’s an Internet radio site streaming out information on astrology, metaphysics, psychic and spiritual awareness, as well as expanding your consciousness. Mind you, that’s plenty to be getting on with.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Digging deeper, I did find a report from last year in the Pretoria News of South Africa that states ‘Africa and Australia are the final two countries still bidding to host Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the most powerful radio astrology telescope on Earth’. My only disillusion is the date of the article, which is 1 April 2010. Still in mystical mood, back in ancient times some people imagined that the movements of celestial bodies (the sun, moon and planets) had, a form of music known as the ‘music of the spheres’. This music was not usually thought to be audible in a literal sense, but as a harmonic and/or mathematical and/or religious concept. The notion can apparently be traced back to Jewish beliefs about an orderly cosmos hymning the praises of its creator and continued to influence thinkers until the end of the Renaissance period.
Music of the magnetosphere A more up-to-date kind of heavenly melody is the ‘broadcast’ music of the northern lights. Part of the wider phenomenon of ‘natural radio’, it is transmitted on the very low-frequency or VLF bands. These signals are in the audio frequency and occur from approximately 200Hz to beyond 10kHz. They are not man-made but occur naturally in nature, the most spectacular ones being heard between 400Hz and 5kHz. This is a natural (sorry!) field for electronics experimenters, and in a moment I’ll give you some websites where you can find practical information. As one enthusiast extols, the sheer enjoyment of listening to yet another realm of nature’s beauty means many people who are not really ‘radio nuts’ or ‘techies’, but who love nature and listening to interesting sounds, have listened to natural radio either live or recorded and have called it the ‘music of Earth itself’. So what is the source of these noises? Lightning storms, the Earth’s magnetic field itself and the aurora borealis and australis (northern and southern lights) all produce an amazing variety of electromagnetic sounds. For example, ‘sferics’ (static from lightning strokes), tweeks, ‘whistlers’, the incredible ‘chorus’ of chirping, barking and squawking produced by the Sun’s solar wind colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field; various kinds of hiss, ‘wavering tone’ emissions and other fascinating sounds to hear.
Curious chorus Some of these sounds are plain bizarre, but the ones termed ‘chorus’ are genuinely musical, sounding like the most fantastic ever dawn chorus of birds twittering and chirping. Some of these have been released on CD in the past (I bought an album at the HMV store in London’s
Oxford Street), but nowadays you can get them straight off the Internet. National Public Radio in the USA broadcasts a fascinating documentary called Listening to the Northern Lights, which you can hear or download. Interestingly, these noises are not a space age discovery—far from it in fact. They were first heard on long telephone wires in the 1880s, and VLF enthusiast Stephen McGreevy argues that these mysterious radio signals of Earth were the first radio signals that people ever heard. He’s probably right if you accept that frequencies in the audio range are in fact radio. Certainly you cannot hear them through your ears unless you were one of those telephone operators in the late 19th century in Britain and the USA who heard strange whistling tones in the background of long-distance telephone calls. At the time, these noises were attributed to problems in the wires and connections of the telephone system and disregarded. A paper of 1894 by W H Preece, engineer-inchief of the British Post Office, appearing in Nature magazine describes operators at the British Government Post Office who listened to telephone receivers connected to telegraph wires and heard the ‘bubbling and murmuring’ sounds of the aurora borealis. Today’s experimenters use receivers that can be very simple or quite sophisticated, with either a whip antenna or crossed multi-turn loops. The best recordings are made in electrically quiet locations, far away from AC power lines, and the real enthusiasts make elaborate expeditions, camping out in US deserts, the remote northern lakes of Canada, woodlands in Ireland or deep in Battersea Park, London. Recommended websites www.auroralchorus.com/natradio.htm Exuberant general introduction www.auroralchorus.com/vlfstory.htm Recording expedition www.vlf.it/kurt/elf.html DIY receiver project www.auroralchorus.com/bbb4rx3.htm Simple receiver project www.auroralchorus.com/wr3gde.htm Receiver listening guide www.auroralchorus.com/vlfquiet.htm Quiet recording locations www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/mcgreevy/ Recordings in MP3 format www.npr.org/programs/lnfsound/ stories/990326.stories.html Listening to the Northern Lights (radio programme) www.auroralchorus.com/vlfstory.htm The history of VLF reception
17
Constructional Project
Multi-function, Intelligent Remote-Controlled Dimmer You probably think that a dimmer is a dimmer is a dimmer, right? This little beauty will definitely change your mind!
Main Features
• Five Modes of Operation:
by Mauro Grassi
18
Remote Dimmer0409 (FROM MATT).indd 18
(1) Dimmer with Timeout (2) ON/OFF control only (3) Sleep mode – dims gra dually to off over the timeou t period (4) Flash mode – functions as a strobe light (5) Security mode – turns a light on and randomly to simulate occupa ncy • Use almost any RC5 remote controller– it off lea • Low standby power consumption (1.1W) rns the remote control codes • Nine preset brightness levels with fine tro l in between • Controls lamps up to 500W (eg, halogencon spotlights) • ON/OFF control for non-dimmable compact • Multi-addressable: control up to nine dimmefluorescents • Timeout period: from 1 minute to 7 days (ca rs independently • Save and restore your favourite brightness n be disabled) • Remembers the last brightness level and molevel and mode • Customisable triac triggering for finer contro de if turned off using a series switch • Customisable dimming speed (advanced) l (advanced) Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
23/02/2011 12:28:58
Constructional Project The (very!) Intelligent Dimmer shown here with an infrared remote control. It can be used with just about any remote control which uses the RC5 protocol. You can see the infrared receiver and acknowledge LEDs through the ‘window’ in the front panel.
T
HIS remote controlled dimmer will work with incandesCENTANDDIMMABLE#&,COMPACTÛUORESCENT LIGHTS AS WELLASSOME6HALOGENLIGHTS)TCANPROVIDEMOOD ANDHOME THEATRELIGHTINGOROPERATEIN3,%%0MODEEG IN ANINFANTmSROOM TOVERYGRADUALLYFADEALAMP 4HISDIMMERALSOHASlINTELLIGENCEmqITCANAUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF THE LIGHT AFTER A TIMEOUT PERIOD RANGING FROM ONE MINUTETOALMOSTAWEEK ENSURINGTHELIGHTISNOTLEFTONIF YOUFORGETTOSWITCHITOFF)TCANALSOBEUSEDTOCONTROLNON DIMMABLE#&,S)NTHISMODE WESIMPLYTURNTHE#&,/.AND /&&NOTEITMAYNOTBESUITABLEWITHSOMENON DIMMABLE #&,S WHICHTENDTOÛICKERINTHEl/&&mSTATE 7ANTTOINDIVIDUALLYDIMMORETHANONETABLELAMPINA ROOM .OPROBLEMYOUCOULDHAVEUPTONINEOFTHESEDIMMERSINAROOM INDEPENDENTLYCONTROLLABLEWITHTHESAME REMOTE)NADDITION YOUCANALSOCONTROLTWOORMOREDIMMERSSIMULTANEOUSLYØ 9OUCANUSEALMOSTANY2#REMOTECONTROL BECAUSETHE LIGHT DIMMER CAN BE PROGRAMMED TO LEARN THE COMMAND CODES0RETTYNEAT EH 9OUUSETHENUMBERKEYSTODIMTO APRESETLEVEL ORTHE6/,50AND6/,$/7.KEYSTODIM UPORDOWNINÚNEINCREMENTS"UTTONlmDIMSDOWNTOOFF WHILElmDIMSUPTOFULLYON )NADDITION WEHAVEATTEMPTEDTOPROVIDEJUSTABOUTEVERY POSSIBLEREMOTECONTROLFEATUREINTHISDESIGN)TISQUITEA SIMPLE CIRCUIT BUT THE MICROCONTROLLERmS PROGRAM PROVIDES ALLTHESEFEATURES
Circuit description 4HECIRCUIT&IG ISBASEDAROUNDA0)#&MICROCONTROLLER WHICHCONTROLSTHETRIACANDRESPONDSTOALLTHE REMOTECONTROLCOMMANDS)NADDITION THEREISTHEINFRARED DECODER)$2 TWO2'",%$S ANNPNTRANSISTOR TWODIODES A:ENERDIODE A-(ZCRYSTALANDANINDUCTORANDAFEW RESISTORSANDCAPACITORS 4HE TRIAC IS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE MAINS LIVE AND THE LAMPVIAINDUCTOR,)NCONJUNCTIONWITHAN&6!# CAPACITOR THISINDUCTORPROVIDESSUPPRESSIONOFELECTROMAGNETICINTERFERENCECAUSEDBYTHERAPIDSWITCHINGOFTHETRIAC
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
4HEMICROSENDSGATEPULSESTOTHETRIACVIA.0.TRANSISTOR 1 AND ULTRA FAST RECOVERY DIODE $ 4HIS DIODE PROTECTS THE TRANSISTOR FROM SPIKES GENERATED WHEN THE TRIAC CHANGES STATE FROM CONDUCTING TO NON CONDUCTING and vice versa 4HEMICROCONTROLSTHEPOWERLEVELFEDTOTHELAMPSBY THETRIACBYVARYINGTHETIMINGOFTHEGATEPULSEDURINGEACH HALF CYCLEOFTHE6!#MAINSWAVEFORM )FTHEGATEPULSEISEARLYINEACHHALFCYCLE THEPOWERLEVEL WILLBEHIGHIE THELAMPWILLBEBRIGHT #ONVERSELY IFTHEGATE PULSECOMESLATEINEACHHALFCYCLE THEPOWERLEVELWILLBE LOWIE THELAMPWILLBEDIM 4HISMETHODOFPOWERCONTROL ISREFERREDTOASlPHASECONTROLm )NORDERTOKNOWWHENINEACHHALFCYCLETOISSUETHEGATE TRIGGERPULSE THEMICROCONTROLLERMUSTBEPROPERLYSYNCHRONISEDTOTHEMAINSWAVEFORMAT(Z4HISISACCOMPLISHED BYASYNCPULSETAKENDIRECTLYFROMTHENEUTRALMAINSCONNECTIONVIAA-ȍ7RESISTOR4HESYNCSIGNALISÚLTERED BYAN&CAPACITOR WHICHFORMSALOW PASSÚLTERWITHTHE -ȍRESISTOR ANDSYNCHRONISATIONOCCURSEVERYHALFCYCLE OFTHEMAINSWAVEFORM ATA(ZRATE
WARNING! This circuit is directly connected to the 230V AC mains. As such, all parts operate at mains potential (ie, at 230V AC) and contact with any part of the circuit could be FATAL. This includes both sides of the PC board. DO NOT connect this device to the mains unless it is fully enclosed in the specified plastic case. DO NOT remove the lid of the case or touch any part of the circuit unless the power cord is unplugged from the mains socket. This project is NOT for the inexperienced. DO NOT attempt to build it unless you know exactly what you are doing and are completely familiar with mains wiring practices and construction techniques. 19
Constructional Project
100 :
100 P F 16V
100n F
1k :
470 PF 16V
IRD1
6
RG B LED1 λ A Kb
2
Kr
λ
A
1
Kg
λ
A
14 3
λ
Vdd 1
10
RA2
RB4 RA1
2
470 :
RA0 4
RB1
MC LR
9 3
RA4 IC 1 PIC18F 1320 7 I/ SO RA3
RB2 RB3 15
X1 10MHz
22p F
22p F
16
17
TRIAC1 BTA16-500
K
ZD1 5. 6V 1W
A1
G
A
(LIN K* ) 470n F 250V AC X2
1k: 5W
Kb
λ
A
Kr
λ
A
Kg
λ
A
D2 UF4004
D1 1N 4004 A
Vss 5
2
LAMP LIVE
3
LAMP NEUTRAL
4
MAINS NEUTRAL
470 : 5W *
A
K
MAINS LIVE
100n F 250V AC X2
L1 47:H 5A
A2
K
100 : NOTE*: COMPONENT VALUES SHOWN IN GREEN ARE FOR 12V AC OPERATION ONLY AND ARE REQUIRED FOR SAFE TESTING BEFORE MAINS CONNECTION
CAUTION
RG B LED2
C
470 :
ALL COMPONENTS AND WIRING OPERATE AT 230V MAINS POTENTIAL CONTACT CAN BE FATAL!
B
Q1 BC 337
18
E
OS C2
OS C1
CO N1 1
3. 3M : 1W
RB0/ 8 IN T0
10k: 1W *
4. 7nF
BC 337 IRD1
D1 , D2 , ZD1 A
E 1
K
IR REMOTE CONTROL LIGHT DIMMER MODULE
3 2
BTA16-500
B C RG B LEDS CH AM FER A Kg
Kb
A1 A2
G
Kr
Fig.1: the circuit is based on a PIC18F1320-I/SO microcontroller, a triac and an IR detector (IRD1). The two RGB LEDs give user feedback on the operation and settings.
Power supply You may wonder how the micro can be synchronised to the mains waveform by connecting it to the neutral side of the mains supply. Isn’t this the low-voltage side of things? Yes it is, but the microcontroller is actually tied to the live side of the mains supply. Power for the micro is derived from the mains via a 1kȍ 5W resistor and a 470nF (X2) capacitor. The capacitor and resistor act as a current limiting impedance for the associated 5.6V Zener diode, ZD1. The supply circuit works as follows. First, for positive half cycles of the 230V AC, current flows via ZD1, the 470nF capacitor and 1kȍ 5W resistor. At the same time, the 470ȝF 16V electrolytic capacitor is charged up. Then, for negative half cycles of the mains, current flows via D1, the 470nF capacitor and the 1kȍ resistor. The result is that the 470ȝF capacitor is charged to 5.6V – 0.6V = 5V DC. The impedance of the 470nF capacitor at 50Hz is 6.77kȍ, and in series with the 1kȍ resistor, this gives a total impedance of 6.84kȍ. Hence, the 5V supply can deliver up to 23mA. Apart from the current drain of the micro itself and IRD1, the circuit must supply the gate power to the triac and drive the two RGB LEDs. These LEDs are connected with each of the six cathodes connected to a different I/O pin of the micro, IC1. The common anodes of the two RGB LEDs are connected together and to the 5V rail via a single 1kȍ current-limiting
20
resistor. For this reason, only one LED (there are three within each RGB LED) is ever lit at any one time. The LEDs are lit to acknowledge key presses, to prompt the user for input and to give feedback on current settings. We explain the user operation in detail later. 3IGNALSFROMTHE)2REMOTECONTROLAREAMPLIÚED ÚLTERED and decoded by the receiver module (IRD1). The 100ȍ resistor and 100ȝF capacitor are used to decouple its 5V supply. The data output at pin 1 of IRD1 is connected to pin 10 of )# ANDCONÚGUREDASADIGITALINPUT
Construction The Intelligent Dimmer is built on a single-sided PC board, code 799, measuring 76mm × 50mm. It is housed in a sturdy
Programming the PIC Micro If you purchase this project as a kit, the PIC microcontroller will be pre-programmed. If not, you will need to program the PIC with the Dimmer software, downloadable from the EPE website at www.epemag.com, before soldering it to the PC board. To do this, refer to the ‘PIC Programmer SOIC Converter’, published in the September 2009 issue (page 30) of EPE. That simple project will allow you to interface the SMD PIC to a common PIC programmer with a ZIF socket. The PC board for this adaptor is available from the EPE PCB Service, code 723.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project
Parts List – Intelligent Dimmer
Fig.2: this oscilloscope screen grab shows an incandescent lamp being switched using phase control. The yellow trace shows the waveform at the A2 terminal of the triac.
polycarbonate case (125mm × 85mm × 55mm) with a clear lid and neoprene lid-sealing gasket. The circuit board is available from the EPE PCB Service. The component overlay diagrams for both sides of the PC board are shown in Fig.3. Note that the circuit diagram and Fig.3 both show three components which must initially be installed to allow the dimmer to operate at 12V AC. This enables you to check its operation at a safe low voltage before changing these parts to allow it to operate at 230V AC. To build the 12V AC version, you simply install a wire link in place of the 470nF 250V AC capacitor, a 470ȍ 5W resistor instead of the 1kȍ 5W unit and a 10kȍ 1W resistor instead of the 3.3Mȍ 1W unit. Check the PC board for any defects before starting the assembly. That done, the next job is to install the programmed PIC microcontroller on the copper side of the board. Note that the microcontroller is an SMD, and must be the 18F1320-I/SO (in the SOIC 18-pin package). Make sure it is oriented correctly. 9OUWILLNEEDAÚNE TIPPEDSOLDERINGIRONTODOTHEJOB Position the IC over the pads and solder pin 17 and pin 18 ÚRST4HENSOLDERPIN FOLLOWEDBYTHEREMAININGPINS"E careful not to get solder bridges between adjacent pins. /NCETHEMICROISIN ÛIPTHEBOARDOVERANDINSTALLTHEPARTS on the component (top) side. Start by installing the four wire links, plus the link in place of the 470nF 250V AC capacitor. Follow these with the seven resistors. Start with the smallest and leave the 470ȍ 5W wirewound resistor until last. Install the diodes next; be sure to get their orientation correct. Zener diode (ZD1) and the 1N4004 (D1) go in the top right-hand corner, while the UF4004 (D2) goes near the triac. .OWSOLDERINTHE"#NPN transistor (Q1). It can only go in one way. That done, bend the leads of the triac down BYABOUTMMFROMITSBODY THENINSTALLITSOTHATITSITS horizontally on the PC board (metal tab down), as shown in Fig.3 and the photos. Do not substitute for the triac – check its part number carefully. The capacitors can now go in. The two larger electrolytic capacitors must be oriented correctly. The 47ȝH inductor is next on the list – it sits vertically on the PC board. Make sure that the enamel coating on the leads is stripped away on the tips prior to soldering. Follow with the 4-way socket (CON1) and the 10MHz crystal.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
1 PC board, code 799, available from the EPE PCB Service, size 76mm × 50mm 1 IP65 sealed ABS plastic case with clear lid, size 125mm × 85mm × 55mm (Jaycar HB-6246) 1 flush-mount 3-pin mains socket (Jaycar PS-4094) or similar 1 IEC male chassis connector with mounting holes (Jaycar PP-4005) 1 10MHz crystal (X1) 1 47ȝH 5A inductor (Jaycar LF-1274) 1 4-way ‘Dinkle’ vertical socket (CON1) (Jaycar HM-3114) 1 4-way ‘Dinkle’ screw terminal plug (Jaycar HM-3124) 1 10A IEC mains cord Semiconductors 1 PIC18F1320-I/SO SOIC pre-programmed microcontroller (IC1) 1 IR receiver (Jaycar ZD-1952) (IRD1) 1 BTA16-500 isolated tab triac (TRIAC1) – DO NOT substitute 1 BC337 NPN transistor (Q1) 2 RGB 5mm common anode LEDs (LED1 and LED2) 1 1N4004 diode (D1) 1 UF4004 ultrafast diode (D2) 1 1N4734 1W 5.6V Zener diode (ZD1) Capacitors 1 470ȝF 16V radial electrolytic 1 100ȝF 16V radial electrolytic 1 470nF (0.47ȝF) 250V AC X2 metallised polypropylene 1 100nF (0.1ȝF) 250V AC X2 metallised polypropylene 1 100nF MKT polyester 1 4.7nF MKT polyester 2 22pF ceramic Resistors (0.25W, 1% unless specified) 1 3.3Mȍ 1W 2 470ȍ 1 10kȍ 1W* 1 470ȍ5W wirewound* 1 1kȍ 2 100ȍ 1 1kȍ 5W wirewound * 12V operation only Miscellaneous 3 M3 × 25mm nylon screws (to secure PC board) 2 M3 × 15mm nylon screws (for IEC connector) 3 M3 × 12mm nylon spacers 10 M3 nylon nuts 1 100mm of 0.7mm-dia. tinned copper wire (for links) 1 200mm length 3-core mains flex (250V 10A rating) 1 4.8mm red spade connector, fully insulated 1 4.8mm blue spade connector, fully insulated 1 4.8mm yellow spade connector, fully insulated 5 100mm cable ties Additional Parts Required For testing 1 12V AC 500mA or 1A plugpack 1 12V 300mA light bulb (Jaycar SL-2656)
21
Constructional Project
The ‘normal’ component side of the PC board carries most of the components ...
Note particularly the orientation of CON1 – it must be installed exactly as shown, with its grooved side towards the right-hand edge of the PC board. .OWÛIPTHE0#BOARDBACKOVERTOTHE COPPERSIDEAGAIN4HEREARETHREEMORECOMPONENTSTOBEÚTTEDTOTHISSIDETHETWO2'" ,%$SANDTHEINFRAREDRECEIVERMODULE)2$ 3TARTWITHTHETWO2'",%$S4HESEGOINWITH AVERYSPECIÚCORIENTATION SOREFERTOTHECOMPONENT OVERLAYBEFOREPROCEEDING"ECAREFULNOTTOUSETOOMUCH HEATWHENYOUSOLDERINTHE,%$S BECAUSEEXCESSIVEHEATCAN EASILYDESTROYTHEMORTHEÚNECONNECTINGLEADSINSIDETHE 2'",%$ 7ERECOMMENDUSINGATEMPERATURE CONTROLLED SOLDERINGSTATION SETTONOMORETHANAROUND#4HE2'" ,%$SSITABOUTMMFROMTHE0#BOARD ANDYOUWILLNEED TOALSOBECAREFULTHATYOUDONmTMELTTHEIRPLASTICHOUSING ASYOUSOLDERTHELEADSTOTHECOPPERSIDE &INALLY SOLDERINTHEINFRAREDRECEIVERMODULE)2$ )TS MOUNTEDWITHITSLEADSBENTDOWNBYABOUTMMFROM ITSBODY-AKESUREITSDOMEDLENSFACESUPWARDS ASSHOWN INTHECLOSE UPPHOTO
Another view of the completed topside of the PC board, this time mounted on the case lid (note: mains version shown). Be sure to attach the warning label to the inside of the lid, as shown.
22
... however, there are four parts, including the PIC, mounted on the copper side (see enlargement at left).
Testing on low voltage 9OURDIMMERISNOWREADYFORITSlowvoltageOPERATIONTESTS&IRST CONNECTA 6M!LIGHTBULB*AYCAR3, BETWEENTHE,!-0,)6%AND,!-0.%542!, CONNECTIONS ON THE WAY SCREW TERMINALBLOCK#/.IE BETWEENPINSAND 4HATDONE APPLY6!#FROMAPLUGPACK SUPPLYTOPINSANDOF#/.9OUCANTHENUSE YOURREMOTECONTROLTORUNTHROUGHTHEVARIOUSDIMMER MODESANDFUNCTIONSSEEFEATURESPANEL /PUFUIBUUIFMPXWPMUBHFWFSTJPONBZTIPXTJHOTPGÝJDLFSJOHBUIJHICSJHIUOFTTTFUUJOHT CFDBVTFUIFTZODISPOJTBUJPO XJUIUIF[FSPDSPTTJOHTPGUIFNBJOTXJMMCFPGGTFUCZUIF"$ QMVHQBDL5IJTQSPCMFNTIPVMEOPUPDDVSXJUINBJOTPQFSBUJPO
Converting to mains operation Having successfully tested the circuit with a 12V AC plugpack and light bulb, you can now disconnect power and install the three components for mains operation: the 470nF 250V AC X2 capacitor (ie, remove the link), the 3.3Mȍ1W resistor and the 1kȍ 5W resistor. (AVINGDONETHAT THECASECANBEPREPAREDTOACCEPTTHE HARDWARE7EUSEDAN)0SEALED!"3CASEWITHCLEARLID ANDWITHDIMENSIONSOFMM¯MM¯MM 9OUWILLNEEDTOMAKETWOCUTOUTSINTHESIDESTOÚTTHE MALECHASSIS MOUNT)%#SOCKETANDTHE PINMAINSOUTLET SOCKET'0/ 4HETEMPLATEISSHOWNIN&IG4HE)%#SOCKET IS ATTACHED USING TWO NYLON - ¯ MM SCREWS AND FOUR NUTS4HESECONDNUTATEACHLOCATIONLOCKSTHEÚRSTINPLACE TOENSURETHATTHE)%#SOCKETCANNOTPOSSIBLYCOMELOOSE Important: do NOT use metal screws to secure the IEC socket (or PC board). All the circuitry inside the case will be at 230V AC potential, so we do not want any exposed metalwork on the case, therefore nylon screws must be used. For the same reason, you must house this project in the specified plastic case. DO NOT use a metal case. 9OUNOWNEEDTOMAKETHEINTERNALCONNECTIONSBETWEEN THE )%# INPUT SOCKET THE WAY l$INKLEm PLUG CONNECTOR FORTHE0#BOARDANDTHE PIN'0/SOCKET5SE6!# CORE ÛEX FOR THIS JOB 3TRIP THE OUTER SHEATH TO REVEAL THE THREE COLOURED WIRES q BROWN IS FOR LIVE BLUE IS FOR THE NEUTRAL AND GREENYELLOW IS FOR THE EARTH CONNECTION Be sure to wire the Dinkle connector plug exactly as shown in Fig.6 and the photo below it.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
L
L
Constructional Project
Fig.3: the component overlay for both sides of the PC board. Remember that the low-voltage version (green components) -534ªBEªBUILTªlRSTªANDªTHEªMODULEªTHENªTESTEDªUSINGªAª6ª!#ªPLUGPACKª/NLYªIFªTHEªLOW VOLTAGEªVERSIONªPASSESªTESTINGª should you proceed to install the three components needed for mains operation (marked with an asterisk – see text).
A ratchet-driven crimping tool is needed to crimp the ends of the three wires connecting to the male IEC socket with the 4.8mm spade lugs. Don’t rely on squeezing with plier-type (automotive) crimpers, as these will not give safe, reliable connections. The connections are shown in Fig.6. If you are unable to obtain fully-insulated 4.8mm connectors, then use non-insulated connectors, but be sure to fully insulate them using 6mm-diameter heatshrink tubing after the leads have been crimped – see photo. Use cable ties to secure the mains wiring, as shown in Fig.6 and the photos. Note particularly how the live, neutral and earth leads are connected to the mains outlet socket and secured using cable ties. The terminals are marked ‘L’ (for live), ‘N’ for neutral and ‘E’ for earth. Check that each mains wire is
run to its correct terminal on both the outlet socket and the IEC input connector.
Drilling the lid The next step is to drill the mounting holes in the lid for the PC board. Fig.8 shows the mounting hole locations and can be used as a drilling template. The front-panel label (Fig.9) can THENBEATTACHED#OVERTHELABELWITHCLEARÚLMANDCUTOUTTHE WINDOWBEFOREÚTTINGIT)TCANBEAFÚXEDTOTHELIDUSINGATHIN smear of neutral-cure silicone sealant as the adhesive. Finally, cut out the three PC board mounting holes using a sharp knife. To improve the presentation in the magazine, we sprayed the outside of the case with a cream gloss plastic paint, but this step is unnecessary for the home constructor. This was
85
(LEFT-HAND END OF BOX)
(RIGHT-HAND END OF BOX) ALL DIMENSIONS IN MILLIMETRES 28.5
6
55
5
18
5
6
14
33.5
10.9
19
5
CUTOUT FOR GPO
A
A 14
HOLES A: 3.0mm DIAMETER, HOLE B: 4.5mm DIAMETER
B
CUTOUT FOR IEC MAINS INPUT PLUG
20.75
9.5
16.75
15
Fig.4 (above): the cutouts you will need to make in the case to accommodate the IEC mains input connector and the 6ªMAINSªOUTLETªONªTHEªOPPOSITEªENDª4HEªMAINSªOUTPUTªSOKETª'0/ ªCUTOUTªWILL ªOFªCOURSE ªDEPENDªONªTHEªTYPEªUSED Fig.5 (left) shows how the PC board ‘hangs’ from the case LIDªONª-ª§ªMMªTAPPEDª nylon spacers. Be sure to use nylon screws and nuts to secure the assembly
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
23
Constructional Project SPAD E CO NNE CTOR S WI TH HEATSH RINK SLEEV ES
DINKLE CONNECTOR (INVERTED)
CABLE TIE
MAINS LIVE LAMP LIVE LAMP NEUTRAL MAINS NEUTRAL L
N
E
N
IEC MALE MAINS INPUT
CABLE TIE
E
L
NOTE: USE ADDITIONAL CABLE TIES TO SECURE MAINS WIRES TO GPO LUGS – SEE PHOTO
GPO GP O MAINS MA IN S PANEL PANE LOUTPUT OU TPUT
(LOWER PART OF CASE)
Fig.6: this diagram shows the wiring within the case, and the lengths of mains-rated cable you’ll need. Match this with the photograph below and you can’t go wrong! 80 mm LONG
120 mm LONG
NEUTRAL
LIVE
This close-up view shows how the GPO outlet socket is wired. Note how the wires are secured to the socket using cable ties.
DONEBEFORETHELABELWASATTACHEDANDAFTERÚRSTREMOVING the wiring and the two sockets and masking off the holes so that no paint could get inside. The lid was left on, but the top RECESSWASMASKEDOFFTOLEAVEACLEARWINDOWFORTHE,%$S AND)2RECEIVER)FYOUDOPAINTTHECASE USEPLASTICPAINT and ensure that no paint gets inside; it could compromise its insulation properties.
Mounting the PC board The PC board is mounted on the clear lid of the case using THREE - ¯ MM NYLON SCREWS THREE - ¯ MM NYLON spacers and six nuts – see Fig.5. Note again that you must
24
use nylon (NOT metal) screws and standoffs to ensure safety. Once the board has been mounted, the Dinkle connector can be plugged into CON1. As shown in one of the photos, it should go in with its screw terminals towards the 470nF 250V AC capacitor, and with the ‘mains live’ wire adjacent to Zener diode ZD1. Check this carefully, then attach the lid to the case. WARNING! ALL PARTS OPERATE AT LETHAL VOLTAGE. DO NOT CONNECT TO MAINS UNLESS ENCLOSED IN CASE.
Fig.7: this warning label should be AFlXEDªINSIDEªTHEª case, eg, to the lid.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project Provided the lid is fastened down, you can now plug in a LAMPANDAPPLYMAINSPOWERTOTHEUNITVIATHE)%#SOCKET )FYOUAREUSINGA$IGITECHREMOTECONTROLFROM*AYCAR#AT !2 JUSTSETITTO6#2CODEANDITSHOULDJUSTWORK Check the panel on the following four pages for information ONUSINGOTHERREMOTECONTROLS
Reducing standby power !LTHOUGHTHESTANDBYPOWERISRELATIVELYLOWATABOUT7 you may wish to eliminate this by switching power off alto GETHERWHENTHEDIMMERISNOTINUSE4HEBESTWAYTODOTHIS ISWITHANIN LINESWITCHINTHEMAINSCORDTOTHE)%#SOCKET 7HEN YOU TURN POWER OFF USING THE SWITCH THE BRIGHT ness setting level will be restored when you apply power NEXTTIME
OVERLEAF: Dimmer features – and how to use them! A
8
The Dinkle connector is plugged into CON1, as shown here. Make sure that its mains live lead is adjacent to Zener diode ZD1 on the PC board, with the neutral wires towards the 1kȍ 5W resistor.
Getting it going Drilling Template for Lid Recess 40
The next step is to use your multimeter (set to a low ohms range) to check between the earth pin of the IEC connector ANDTHEEARTHPINOFTHEÛUSH MOUNTINGMAINSOUTPUTSOCKET You should get a reading of zero ohms here (this checks the INTEGRITYOFTHEEARTHCONNECTION Before applying power, refer to the warning panel earlier in the article. All the circuitry operates at 230V AC and you must NOT connect this device to a mains wall socket unless it is fully enclosed in its plastic case (ie, with the lid on). If it’s plugged in, the circuit could still be live, even if the mains switch is off at the wall – ie, if live and neutral have been transposed at the wall socket. You have been warned!
A
A
67.5
16
ALL DIMENSIONS IN MILLIMETRES HOLES “A” 3.0mm DIAMETER, COUNTERSINK
Fig.8: use this diagram as a drilling template for the case lid ITªlTSªINªTHEªRECESSªINªTHEªTOPªOFªTHEªLID
SILICON CHIP
Warning: all par ts inside operat e at high voltage WARNING: ALL PARTS INSIDE OPERATE AT HIGH VOLTAGE www.siliconchip.com.au CUT OUT THIS WINDOW BEFORE ATTACHING LABEL
This view shows the prototype BEFOREªTHEªFRONTªPANELªWASªlTTED
Important Points To Check (1) Be sure to use the specified ABS plastic case and note that nylon screws must be used to secure the IEC connector and to secure the PC board to the lid (via tapped nylon spacers). (2) Use mains-rated cable for all connections to the IEC mains socket and to the flush-mount 3-pin mains outlet socket. Secure these leads with cable ties, as shown in Fig.6 and the photos. (3) Use fully-insulated spade connectors to terminate the leads to the IEC connector. A ratchet-driven crimping tool is necessary to fit these spade connectors and ensure safe, reliable connections.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
er m m i D d ontrolle
-C e t o m e igent R
Intell
500W MAX
Fig.9: this full-size artwork for the front panel can be photocopied and glued to the lid.
25
Constructional Project
Dimmer features – and how to use them! The remote control We tested the Intelligent Light Dimmer with a range of universal infrared remote controls, including the Digitech AR-1726 (Jaycar Cat. AR-1726). Set the Digitech remote control to the VCR-917 code (this is the code for a Philips VCR). This is the default (pre-programmed) code in the PIC micro (IC1), so if you use the Digitech remote, you don’t have to do anything else! However, the dimmer can be operated using any RC5 remote control, because the control codes can be ‘learnt’. There are 20 codes that the light dimmer recognises and these are listed in Table 1, together with their function. If the light dimmer senses infrared activity, but it is not one of the 20 codes recognised, it will be ignored. However, if the same unrecognised code is pressed 10 times consecutively, the light dimmer will enter the remote control programming menu that lets you define the remote control codes for each of the 20 functions. Once this menu is entered (you will see the LEDs flash to indicate that the menu is being entered). You will then be Button Name
prompted, by flashing LED codes, to define each of the 20 remote control codes used to operate the light dimmer. The LED codes for each command are shown in the LED Code column in Table 1. So, for example, when you see the LED code for ‘1’ (a single flash from the top green LED), you should press the key on your RC5 remote that you want to define for the function that ‘1’ has (in this case, it functions both to enter settings and to set the brightness to 11% of full brightness). After all 20 remote control codes have been successfully defined, they will be stored in EEPROM, so this only needs to be done once.
User operation As noted above, up to 20 keys can be programmed with separate functions. For example, the number keys are used to dim to preset levels, while the VOL UP and DOWN buttons can dim up and down in fine increments. The Channel UP and DOWN keys are used to change the operating mode (five modes), the MENU button lets you enter one of the 10 menus and the INFO button lets you see the current settings and
Function(s)
LED Code
Recommended Key Definitions for the Digitech AR-1726 remote (defaults)
OK/ADDRESS
In normal operation, this button is used to set the address (OK/ADDRESS + number). If inside a menu, it can be used to exit the menu.
BBLUE x 2
TOGGLE
If light is on, dims it to off. If the light is off, dims it up to full brightness. If inside a menu, this is used to toggle the sign of the number being entered.
BBLUE x 1 + TBLUE x 2 (dimming up) or Press ‘MUTE’ TBLUE x 1 + BBLUE x 2 (dimming down)
MODE UP
Go up to the next mode. The modes are, in order: Normal, ZV, Sleep, Flashing and Security.
BBLUE x 1 + TBLUE x 1
Press ‘Channel Up’
MODE DOWN
Go down to the previous mode. The modes are, in order: Normal, ZV, Sleep, Flashing and Security.
TBLUE x 1 + BBLUE x 1
Press ‘Channel Down’
INFO
In normal operation, this button is used to get information about the current settings. Press INFO + number to get the appropriate setting according to Table 3.
BGREEN x 1 + TBLUE x 1
Press ‘STOP’
MENU
In normal operation, this button is used to enter a menu to change a setting. Press MENU + number to enter the appropriate menu according to Table 2.
BGREEN x 1 + TRED x 1
Press ‘MENU’
UP
Press ‘OK’
Dim up finely by 4%
BGREEN x 1
Press ‘Volume Up’
DOWN
Dim down finely by 4%.
BRED x 1
Press ‘Volume Down’
PLAY
Recall your favourite brightness level and operating BGREEN x 2 mode (you must have previously saved those by using the RECORD button).
Press ‘Play’
Press to save the current brightness and operating mode. You will then be able to recall these settings at any time by pressing PLAY.
Press ‘Record’
RECORD
BRED x 2
0
Dim to off.
TRED x 1
Press ‘0’
1
Dim to 11% of full brightness.
TGREEN x 1
Press ‘1’
2
Dim to 22% of full brightness.
TGREEN x 2
Press ‘2’
3
Dim to 33% of full brightness.
TGREEN x 3
Press ‘3’
4
Dim to 44% of full brightness.
TGREEN x 1 + BBLUE x 1
Press ‘4’
5
Dim to 55% of full brightness.
BBLUE x 1
Press ‘5’
6
Dim to 66% of full brightness.
BBLUE x 1 + TGREEN x 1
Press ‘6’
7
Dim to 77% of full brightness.
BBLUE x 1 + TGREEN x 2
Press ‘7’
8
Dim to 88% of full brightness.
BBLUE x 1 + TGREEN x 3
Press ‘8’
9
Dim to full brightness.
TGREEN x 1 + BBLUE x 2
Press ‘9’
4ABLEªªAªSUGGESTEDªREMOTEªCONTROLªCODEªDElNITIONªSEQUENCEªUSINGªANª2#ªREMOTEªCONTROLª4HISªASSUMESªYOUªAREªUSINGªTHEª $IGITECHª!2 ªUNIVERSALªREMOTEªCONTROLªALTHOUGHªOTHERªUNIVERSALªREMOTESªSHOULDªBEªSIMILARªANDªMAYªBEªUSED ª.OTEªTHATª 4'2%%.ªDENOTESªTHEªTOPªGREENª,%$ ª42%$ªTHEªTOPªREDª,%$ªWHILEª"",5%ªDENOTESªTHEªBOTTOMªBLUEª,%$ ªETC
26
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project
MENU Number
MENU Function
INFO Number
INFO Function
0
Reset and restore all default settings
0
Firmware Version (HLL=version H.LL)
1
Time Out Period (Minutes)
1
Time Out Period (Minutes)
2
Flash Modulus
2
Flash Modulus
3
Quiescent Level
3
Mains Frequency (0.1 Hz)
4
Address (0=Broadcast)
4
Address (0=Broadcast)
5
Limiting Phase 0 (Positive Half Cycle)
5
Limiting Phase 0 (Positive Half Cycle)
6
Limiting Phase 1 (Negative Half Cycle)
6
Limiting Phase 1 (Negative Half Cycle)
7
Offset Phase 0 (Positive Half Cycle)
7
Offset Phase 0 (Positive Half Cycle)
8
Offset Phase 1 (Negative Half Cycle)
8
Offset Phase 1 (Negative Half Cycle)
9
Dimming Delay
9
Dimming Delay
Table 2: the menu options. In each case, you press the MENU button followed by the appropriate number to choose that menu. Entering a menu is indicated by a SPECIlCªSEQUENCEªONªTHEªTWOª2'"ª,%$Sª9OUªCANªTHENªUSEª other keys to set up the property (see text). In all cases, you PRESSª/+!$$2%33ªTOªEXITªTHEªMENU
Table 3: the information options. In each case, you press the INFO button followed by the appropriate number to choose that option. The information is then displayed USINGªTHEªTWOª2'"ª,%$S ªANDªCANªREPRESENTªDECIMALª NUMBERSªBYªDIFFERENTªSEQUENCESªOFªBLINKSªSEEªTEXT
so on. Each time you press a recognised command, the two RGB LEDs will flash to acknowledge the command which will then be executed. When a set dimming level has been reached, there will be an additional acknowledgment LED code of the operating mode. So, for example, if you press ‘3’, the LED code for ‘3’ will be shown and then the dimmer will perform the command that it corresponds to. In this case, it will dim the light up or down in brightness so that it is at 33% of full brightness. When that level is reached, the light dimmer will issue the LED code for the current operating mode.
green blinks + 1 blue blink + 3 green blinks). To display –2400 however, the code is (NEGATIVE + 2 green blinks + 1 green blink + 1 blue blink + 1 red blink + 1 red blink). Once you use the light dimmer, you will quickly become used to the LED codes.
Number codes The red blink indicates zero. One, two and three green blinks indicate, respectively, 1, 2, and 3. A blue blink indicates 5. Fig.10 shows all the number codes, along with the codes for plus and minus. Numbers like 128 or –2400 can also be shown. These multi-digit numbers have their digits codes shown in order from left to right. When a number is displayed, the sign is displayed first. For example, the code to display 128 is (POSITIVE + 1 green blink + 2 + 1x
2x
1x
2x
0 1x
Reproduced by arrangement with SILICON CHIP magazine 2011. www.siliconchip.com.au
1 1x
2 2x
3 4
1x
6 1x
7 1x
(1) Normal mode Normal mode is the default. In this mode, the light can be dimmed over the full range. If the timeout is not disabled, the light automatically dims to off if no remote control activity has been detected for that period of time. The dimming speed can be changed as well (see below). In this mode, you can dim the light up or down using the VOL UP and VOL DOWN and the number keys. You can also use the TOGGLE key to dim up to full brightness or dim down to off. Pressing any of the number buttons will dim the light to the preset level of that button. For example, pressing 4 will dim to about half brightness (actually 44%). Pressing 0 will dim to off and so on. If you want to change the rate at which the lamp dims, you enter the menu mode, press the 9 button and then enter the dimming delay (0 to 9999) and press OK. continued next page
ZV MODE
1x
5
1x
There are five operating modes. In order, they are: (1) Normal, (2) ZV, (3) Sleep, (4) Flashing and (5) Security. You use the Channel UP and Channel DOWN buttons to change the mode.
NORMAL MODE
3x 1x
Operating modes
2x
8 1x
3x
1x
2x
9
&IGªTHEª,%$ª acknowledge pattern codes for plus and minus, along with the numbers 0 to 9. These ,%$SªAREªCLEARLYªVISIBLEª through the window in the front panel.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
SLEEP MODE FLASHING MODE SECURITY MODE ENTERING MENU EXITING MENU
&IGªTHEª,%$ª acknowledge pattern codes for THEªlVEªMODES ª plus entering and exiting the menu.
1x
2x
1x
2x
1x
2x
1x
2x
1x
2x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
27
Constructional Project
Timeout Period Digit Code (minutes)
Timeout Period
Power Consumption of a 100W light for the timeout period
30 60 120 180 240 360 720 1440 9999 0000
Half an Hour 1 Hour 2 Hours 3 Hours 4 Hours 6 Hours Half a Day A Day Almost a week Disabled
0.05 kWh 0.10 kWh 0.20 kWh 0.30 kWh 0.40 kWh 0.60 kWh 1.20 kWh 2.40 kWh 16.67kWh –
entering a room and turning a light on, then later turning it off, making it perfect for giving a home an ‘occupied’ appearance even though no-one is at home. Both the on time and the off time are random; ie, they are not the same. They could be anywhere between (and including) five minutes and two hours.
Menus and Information There are a number of menus that let you change the default behaviour of the light dimmer. To enter menu X (where X is in the range 0 to 9), you press MENU + X, whereas to get information on a setting you enter INFO + X. The complete list of menus and information options is given in Table 2 and Table 3.
Timeout period
Table 4: a selection of timeout period codes (in minutes) and what the timeout period will be. The 4-digit code in the left column must be entered when prompted in the timeout period menu to set the appropriate timeout period. To disable the timeout period function, enter a code of ‘0000’. To enable it, enter the appropriate number of minutes. The maximum timeout period is 9999 minutes, or almost a week. The longer the timeout period, the less chance that it will trigger when the light is in use, but the less power conservation protection offered.
(2) ZV mode In ZV (zero voltage) mode, the light is only ON or OFF. This may be used for non-dimmable CFLs. You use the same dimming controls as for Normal mode, except that you only need to use 0 (fully off) or 1 (fully on). The TOGGLE key still retains its former action.
(3) Sleep mode Sleep Mode functions the same as Normal mode, except that the light is gradually dimmed to off for the duration of the timeout period (when there is no IR activity). This is useful, for example, for setOK/ADDRESS ting a baby to sleep. You could set the 2x timeout period to 30 minutes, set the TOGGLE TO ON dimmer to sleep mode and then set the 1x initial brightness. TOGGLE TO OFF 1x While the timeout period can be anything from 1 minute to 1 week, the MODE UP 1x sleep mode function will only work with timeout periods between 1 minute and MODE DOWN 1x 255 minutes (4.25 hours). INFORMATION 1x
(4) Flashing mode In Flashing mode, the light will flash with a 25% duty cycle at a user-set frequency (see below). This mode is useful for a shop front display or some form of beacon application.
(5) Security mode This mode will randomly turn the light on and off at full brilliance, for a period between five minutes and two hours. This simulates someone
28
MENU 1x
DIM UP 1x
DIM DOWN 1x
PLAY 2x
RECORD 2x
COMMAND NOT RECOGNISED
3x
The timeout period can be set anywhere between 1 minute and 9999 minutes. Setting it to 0 disables the timeout function. To view the current timeout period, go to INFO+1, whereas to set the timeout period go to MENU+1. For example, to set the timeout period to two hours, press MENU + 1 (then wait to enter the menu, which is acknowledged by an LED sequence – see Fig.11). Then you would type 1 + 2 + 0 + OK/ ADDRESS (OK/ADDRESS is used to exit the menu). To now view the current timeout period, type INFO + 1. You should see the LED code for +120. Table 4 shows some typical timeout periods.
Mains frequency Pressing INFO + 3 gives the current mains frequency in units of 0.1Hz. For example, a reading of 495 indicates 49.5Hz.
Multi addressable Setting the light dimmer’s address is easy. Simply press MENU + 4. To view the address, type INFO + 4. The address can be set anywhere between 1 and 9. Setting it to 0 (broadcast) disables the address function and makes the dimmer respond to remote control commands from any address. If the address is set to 4, for example, the light dimmer will ignore any remote control commands (except INFO commands) not addressed to that address. 2x This is useful if you want to control two light dimmers independently with the 2x same remote. You simply set them to different addresses. 1x Suppose you set dimmer one’s address to 1 and the other to 2. If you want to make 1x the first one listen, press OK/ADDRESS + 1x 1. That sets the current address for all light dimmers in range. They then com1x pare that address to their set address. If it matches, the light dimmer will not ignore the received commands. Now any subsequent commands will be executed by dimmer 1 but ignored by dimmer 2. If you now press OK/ADDRESS Fig.12: the LED + 3, assuming there is no other dimmer acknowledge nearby, both will ignore any subsequent codes for the commands! commands. You can also disable the selective addressing by setting the dimmer’s address
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project
+325V
0V
Save and recall options
ZERO VOLTAGE DETECT VIA INT0
10ms
30ms
0
20ms
TIME
Advanced settings
–325V
+325V Offset(0)
Offset(1) Limiting(1)
0V
At any time, you can use the RECORD button to store the current brightness and operating mode to non-volatile memory (EEPROM). When you next press the PLAY button, these settings are restored. This can be used to set your favourite brightness level to be recalled at any time in one touch.
0
Limiting(0)
TIME
–325V
Fig.13: this explains the meaning of the four advanced settings. The offset can be a positive or a negative number, while the limiting value is a single unsigned 8-bit number.
to 0. Press MENU + 4 to enter the ADDRESS menu. Then press 0 + OK/ADDRESS to set the address to 0 and make it listen to any address.
Speed of dimming The default value for the dimming delay is 10. This gives a period of around five seconds to dim from one extreme to another. You can vary the speed of dimming by entering MENU + 9. Then enter the number. Possible values range from 0 (fastest) to 9999 (extremely slow). To set the speed of dimming to take roughly 10 seconds from one extreme to another, enter the sequence MENU + 9, then wait to enter the menu, then enter 2 + 0 + OK/ADDRESS to set the dimming delay to 20. At any time, you can press INFO + 9 to see the set value. The dimming delay will be echoed back to you as a number in LED code.
Speed of flashing In Flashing mode, the frequency of flashing can be varied by entering MENU + 2. Wait to enter the menu and then you can enter a number. The higher the number, the slower will be the flashing. A value of X gives a flashing frequency of approximately 5/(X+1) Hz. So for example, a value of 19 will give a 0.25Hz flashing frequency (or a flash roughly every four seconds). The default flashing value is 10, giving a flashing rate of 0.45Hz (roughly one flash every two seconds).
Minimum brightness You can set the minimum lamp brightness which will apply at all times unless the dimmer is switched off by an in-line switch. You can set the quiescent level by pressing MENU + 3. You will then be able to set the quiescent level with the usual dimming buttons (VOL UP and VOL DOWN and the number keys). Once you are happy with the set level, press OK/ADDRESS to exit the menu. Note that if you are using the light dimmer in the ZV mode or flashing mode, the quiescent current level will be ignored.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
The firmware of this light dimmer allows fine tuning of the triac response, in terms of four parameters that can be set by the user: two limiting values and two offset values (two each for each of the two half cycles of the mains waveform). Note that you will not normally need to set these values, as the defaults should be suitable for most incandescent lamps, dimmable CFLs and halogen lamps. In the event that you are driving, say, a desk halogen lamp, where the 12V power is supplied by a transformer (plugpack), the load will not strictly be resistive, as the transformer would present an inductive load. In this case, this light dimmer allows you to set these four parameters to control the triggering of the triac and to customise the dimmer response. The limiting values ‘limiting0’ and ‘limiting1’ are 8-bit numbers ranging from 0x00 to 0xFF (hexadecimal). The default values are 0xFF or 255. The brightness level is guaranteed to always be less than or equal to the ‘limiting0’ value in the positive half cycle of the mains waveform and less than or equal to the ‘limiting1’ value in the negative half cycle of the mains waveform. A brightness level of N corresponds to the limiting value: V = 28 × N, where N is a digit from 0-9. As a percentage, the equation becomes: V = 2.55 × P, where P is the percentage of full brightness. So, for example, a brightness level of 5 corresponds to the value 140 (or roughly 55% brightness). Suppose we want to limit the positive half cycle brightness to around 55% of full brightness. Then we would enter MENU + 5 (then wait to enter the menu). Then we would type 1 + 4 + 0 + OK/ADDRESS. This would set the limiting value for the positive half cycle to around 55%. This gives you very fine control of the triac response.
An example: driving a 12V halogen desk lamp Why would you ever need to change the default values? Suppose you are controlling a desk lamp with a 12V halogen bulb. The 12V is derived from a transformer in a plugpack and hence presents an inductive load to the light dimmer. The inductive load changes the phase relationship and we found that by choosing values of limiting0 = 0×FF and limiting1 = 0×E0, we could prevent the desk lamp from flickering when set to the maximum brightness level. The flickering occurs because the triac triggering is occurring before the zero crossing of the mains rather than after. The offset setting is a signed 16-bit number (the default value is 0) which you can also set (it can range between –32768 to 32767). The unit is 800ns. So an offset of 1500 indicates a time offset of 1.2ms, for example. Note that a half cycle of the mains (at 100Hz) equates to a 10ms period, or in other words a full EPE offset of 12500.
29
Max’s Cool Beans By Max The Magnificent Sugar and space and all things nice…
Elementary IC
D
But wait, there’s more, because I also ran into some information with regard to the elements used to form integrated circuits, as illustrated in Fig.2 (Source: Research Directions for Nano-Scale Science and Technology, Tze-Chiang (T.C.) Chen, IBM Fellow, VP Science & Technology, Research Division). In this case, the green boxes reflect the elements used before the 1990s; the blue boxes indicate additional elements used after the 1990s, but before 2006; and the pink boxes reflect still more elements we started to use after 2006 to the present day. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s interesting that there are now more elements in a high-end integrated circuit than there are in a human being. Of course, the mind-blowing thing is that the majority of these elements were created in supernovae (stellar explosions), which means that in a very fundamental way we are all created from stardust (my dear old mother won’t be surprised to hear this … she always told me I was special!)
O YOU remember that poem ‘What are little girls and boys made of?’ that originated around the early 1800s, and that our parents used to recite to us when we were kids. Apparently, little girls were made of ‘sugar and spice and all things nice,’ while I and my compatriots were composed of ‘frogs and snails and puppy dogs’ tails.’
Until next time – have a good one – Max!
Fig.1. The elements in the human body
Have you ever wondered what we are actually made of? Recently, I’ve started to become very interested in ‘stuff’ to do with elements. I think my interest was kicked into gear when I read The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean. Since then I’ve started to run across all sorts of interesting nuggets of knowledge, such as the elements forming a human body (Source: H. A. Harper, V. W. Rodwell, P. A. Mayes, Review of Physiological Chemistry, 16th ed., Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, California 1977.) Consider the periodic table shown in Fig.1. The green squares represent the first (that is, the most abundant) five elements in the human body. Since we are about 70% water, it’s not surprising that hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) appear in this group. Similarly, calcium (Ca) is used to form our bones and carbon (C) is the basis of life as we know it. I must admit that I was surprised to see nitrogen (N) in the top five, but what do I know? The blue boxes represent the next five elements in terms of abundance. These are followed by the yellow and pink boxes, which represent the trace and minimal-trace elements we need to survive, respectively. Again, there are some surprises here. Over the last few years I know that scientists have discovered that minimal amounts of arsenic (As) are essential, but I’m not sure what role lead (Pb) plays.
30
Fig.2. Elements used to form integrated circuits
Check out ‘The Cool Beans Blog’ at www.epemag.com Catch up with Max and his up-to-date topical discussions
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
EX
E CL PE U SI V
Win a Microchip Microstick Development Board
E
E
VERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS is offering its readers the chance to win one of ten Microchip Microstick development boards for dsPIC33F and PIC24H (P/N DM330013). The Microstick for dsPIC33F and PIC24H devices is designed to provide an easy-to-use, economical development environment for 16-bit digital signal controllers and microcontrollers. The board includes an integrated debugger/programmer, a socket for the device under test and pins that facilitate insertion into a prototyping BOARDFOREXTREMELYÛEXIBLEDEVELOPMENT The Microstick offers an integrated USB programmer/debugger, which shortens learning curves. For maxIMUMÛEXIBILITY THE-ICROSTICKCANBEUSEDSTAND ALONEORPLUGGEDINTOAPROTOTYPINGBOARD Software support includes the same free MPLAB IDE and software libraries that work with all of Microchip’s 8/16/32-bit PIC microcontrollers and DSCs. Additionally, the dsPIC33F DSCs are supported by the free demo version of Microchip’s Device Blocksets for the MATLAB language and Simulink environment, which work seamlessly within the MPLAB IDE. This combination of low-cost tools and free software provides an industry-leading platform for experimentation and development of smart-sensor and a host of other embedded-control applications.
HOW TO ENTER For your chance to win a Microstick Development Board, visit: www.microchip-comps.com/epe-mstk and enter your details in the online entry form.
CLOSING DATE The closing date for this offer is 31 May 2011
WORT H $24.9 9
(appr
ox. £1
EACH
5.00)
WIN O NE
10
OF
Constructional Project
Switch just about any plug-in mains-powered device when a passive infrared sensor detects a person approaching. It’s easy with this low-cost and easy-to-build project.
By JIM ROWE
PIR-Triggered Mains Switch Y
ou’ve seen those lights fitted with PIR detectors which turn on when someone approaches. But what if you want to switch on something else that’s mains powered? Perhaps it’s other security lighting? Possibly an AV recording or playback system? Maybe a fountain pump? Or just about anything else that can plug into a standard power point? Think outside the box: what about a commercial display, which you’d like to spring into action when there’s an audience close by? If so, then this project is for you. We take a bog-standard (and cheap!) passive infrared detector, as used in millions of burglar alarms, and use it to
32
PIR Mains Switch (FROM MATT).indd 32
safely turn on 230V AC mains device(s) for an adjustable preset period – and that period is set by you. It’s compact and easy to build, but at the same time it’ll cost you much less than commercial PIR-triggered switches with similar features.
Features Talking of features, what are these? First, it will accept trigger signals from virtually any standard low-cost PIR detector which can be located up to 20m away, if that’s what you need. The two are connected together via a length of two-pair telephone cable – and the Switch Unit also provides 12V power for the PIR detector, via the same cable.
Next, the switch unit uses a heavyduty mains-rated relay to switch the power to twin 230V AC outlets. The relay contacts are rated for 20A, so the unit is quite capable of switching power for any likely load combination, up to the normal 10A limit of a standard power point. Once triggered by the PIR detector, the unit can keep the power switched on for a preset period of time, which you can set to any of 10 different periods, ranging from just a few seconds to 128 minutes (over two hours). This should make the unit suitable for many different applications, especially as it is also provided with a manual override button that can be
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
23/02/2011 16:16:20
Constructional Project
+12V PIR DETECTOR
R1 S
N/C
RELAY DRIVER
Q
S-R FLIP-FLOP
230V OUTLETS
MAINS RATED RELAY
N
L
Q
R
E
–
+
SET HOLD ON TIME
S1
MANUAL TURN OFF
C1 S2 R2
O6 O5
N
L
O1 4
MR
MULTISTAGE BINARY COUNTER
O4
E CLK
E
TIMING CLOCK +17V +12V 0V
L
L
N
N
230V POWER
POWER SUPPLY
Fig.1: the block diagram of the PIR-Triggered Mains Switch. It can switch up to 10A from the two outlets (the limitation of a standard power point).
used to switch off the mains power to the load(s) at any time, regardless of the hold-on time setting. &INALLY THE3WITCH5NITÚTSINA5" sized plastic box, with all of the low voltage circuitry on a small PC board for easy assembly. In fact, the Switch Unit could itself be battery operated and switch low voltage devices if you like (it needs ABOUTM!AT6 In addition, the ‘live’ mains wiring is all off the PC board, in the interests of safety. "EFOREWEEXPLAINHOWITWORKS THIS project has been sponsored by Jaycar Electronics, and kits will be available from them – see their advert in this issue.
How it works As you can see from the block diagram of Fig.1, the project is quite
straightforward. At lower right is the built-in power supply, which provides REGULATED 6 $# TO POWER BOTH THE remote PIR detector and its own interNALCIRCUITRY PLUSANUNREGULATED^6 $#TOPOWERTHERELAY The output of virtually all PIR detectors is a set of relay contacts, which are normally closed, but open when the detector senses movement. It is this set of contacts which we use to trigger the mains switching unit, by connecting them between the input of a CMOS inverter and ground. The inverter input is also connected to THE 6LINEWITHRESISTOR2 SOTHAT whenever the detector contacts open, the inverter’s input is pulled high by R1 and its output switches low. This action is used to ‘set’ a set/reset ÛIP ÛOP WHICH IS NORMALLY RESTING IN ITS RESET STATE 7HEN THE ÛIP ÛOP
This shot shows the IEC connector and PIR input on the left end of the box.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
switches into the set state, its Q output switches high. This is used to activate a transistor driver circuit and energise the relay. Power is thus switched to the TWO6!#OUTLETSANDTHELOADS !TTHESAMETIMEASTHE3 2ÛIP ÛOP switches to its set state, its Q output switches low. This output is connected to the master reset (MR) input of a multi-stage binary counter. So when THEÛIP ÛOPSETS THISREMOVESTHERESET from the counter and allows it to begin counting. It counts the pulses from a simple clock oscillator, which runs at (Z THE REASON FOR THIS RATHER odd frequency will become clear in a moment). The binary counter has 14 stages, but makes available only the outputs FROM INTERNAL ÛIP ÛOPS TO / / ANDTO/ / 7EUSE ROTARYSWITCH3TOSELECTONEOFTHESE OUTPUTS SOTHEROTOROF3ISKEPT low until the selected counter output switches high. This happens as soon as the counter has received the appropriate number of clock pulses: eight pulses in the case OF/ FOR/ FOR/ FOR/ and so on, right up to O14, which only SWITCHESHIGHAFTERPULSESHAVE been counted. Whenever the selected counter output switches high, this low-to-high transition is coupled via capacitor C1 into the input of a second inverter, which is NORMALLYHELDLOWBYRESISTOR23OTHE INVERTERmSINPUTISTAKENHIGHBRIEÛY AS #CHARGESUPVIA2"UTTHISISLONG enough for the inverter’s output to
33
Constructional Project
PIR DET
+12V
CON1 1 2 3 4 5 6
100n F
10k 1
14 3
IC 1: 4093B
3-WAY PCB TERMINAL BLOCK
5
IC 2 4060B
IC 1b 4
6
12
10k
+12V 1M
IN
11
680n F
10
O9 O8
Rs Rtc
O6 O5
Ctc
O4
8m
13
4m
14
2m
6
1m
4
30 s
LED1
39
E
+17V
7
68 5W S2 SET HOLD ON TIME
S1
9
D6
K
TRIGGERED K
230V AC OUTLET No:1
A
10k T1
E
240V
N
B
0V
K
A K
A
K K
A
Q1 BD139
N
L
E
+17V
A
6V
C E
D2 –D5 6V
L
CAUTION: Area within red dotted line is at 230V potential
A
LED2
15k
GND
230V AC INPUT
RLY 1
K
A
D1
OU T
1k
22n F
8
7
B
C
5 15 s
MANUAL TURN OFF
IC 1c
BD139
BD1
7. 5s
10
IN
9
+12V
A
7812
MR
15
PO WE R
K
Vss 8
K
GND
O1 0
O7
0V
LEDS
1k A
Vdd 3 1 28m O1 4 2 64 m O1 3 1 32 m O1 2
11
12
IC 1a 100n F
(RJ12) OR
IC 1d
13
2
100n F 16
REG1 7812 IN
2200 F 25V
+12V
OU T
230V AC OUTLET No:2
GND
22 F N
L
E MAINS EARTH
D1 : 1N 4148
PIR SENSOR TRIGGERED MAINS SWITCH
A
K
D2 –D6: 1N 4004 A
K
Fig.2: the circuit diagram shows how simple the PIR Mains Switch is. Note that this project switches mains, and great care MUSTªBEªTAKENªWITHªMAINSªWIRINGª)TªISªDElNITELYªNOTªAªPROJECTªFORªBEGINNERS
switch low, applying a triggering pulse TOTHERESETINPUTOFTHE3 2ÛOP ÛOP !S A RESULT THE ÛIP ÛOP SWITCHES back to its reset state, turning off the relay and removing 230V AC power from the loads. So as you can see, this combination OFAÛIP ÛOPANDAMULTISTAGEBINARY counter allows us to automatically turn the relay off again after an appropriate number of clock pulses has been counted – as selected by S2. For example, if S2 is set to O4 of the counter, the relay will be turned off after eight pulses have been counted; if it’s set to O5, the turnoff will be after 16 pulses; to O6 and it will be after 32 pulses and so on.
34
Clock oscillator The reason for the apparently odd frequency of 0.9375Hz for the counter’s clock oscillator is due to the binary relationship between all of the counter outputs. The counter’s O6 output goes high after 64 pulses have been counted, but by making the clock frequency 0.9375Hz we ensure that this corresponds to 60 seconds or one minute. (That’s because 60/64 = 0.9375.) The same clock frequency makes the switch-off times corresponding to the higher counter outputs also correspond to reasonably convenient multiples of minutes: two minutes for O8, four minutes for O9, eight
minutes for O10, 32 minutes for O12, 64 minutes for 013 and 128 minutes for O14. The lower outputs also give reasonably convenient shorter times: 30 seconds for O6, 15 seconds for O5 and 7.5 seconds for O4. But what if you have set the project to hold the power on for, say, 64 minutes after triggering and then want to switch it off immediately? That’s easily fixed, because we have also provided a normally open pushbutton switch S1, which pulls the inverter input high and causes it to reset the S-R flip-flop straight away. All you have to do to turn off the load power at any time is press S1 briefly.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project
230V MAINS INPUT
RELAY (RLY1)
CA BLE TIES
T1 A
2851
E HEATSHRINK SLEEVING OVER JOINTS
HEATSH RINK SLEEV ES OV ER ALL QU IC K CO NNE CTOR S
6V
6V
N
0V
12V AC IN
HS1
LED2
10k
MA NU AL TURN OF F
7002 C 17011101
4004
4004
D3
D4
D5
+
4004
4004
D2
10k
IC 1
1M S2
10k
1 2
22n F
4093B
IC 2
4060B
HO LD ON TIME
D1 4148
DNG
S1
680n F
10
100n F
100n F
PIR DET
BD135
68 /5 W
2200 F NI
D6
EJ
15k
+
+V
Q1 BD139
4004
22 F
1k
CO N1
REG1 7812
HS2
1k
TRIG ’D
PW R
(O PTIONA L RJ12 SO CK ET OR 3-WA Y TE RMIN AL BLOC K)
RELAY CO IL
100n F
LED1
6
CABLE FROM PIR DETECTOR PLUGS IN HERE REAR OF MAINS OUTLET 2
Fig.3: combined component overlay and wiring diagram. Follow this diagram exactly – you cannot take chances when mains is involved! Note the comments in the text about the RJ12 socket or 3-way terminal block (PIR input) options.
S1 (ON FRONT PANEL)
”PRESSPAHN” OR OTHER SUITABLE INSULATION COVERING OUTLETS
E
REAR OF MAINS OUTLET 1
E
NOTE LINK
(2) (3) (4) (5)
–
+
TERMINAL BLOCK INSIDE PIR DETECTOR
Fig.4: detail of the cable connecting a typical PIR detector and the Switch Unit, assuming the RJ12 socket is used on the PC board.
"YTHEWAY WHENEVERTHE3 2ÛIPÛOP ISRESETANDFORWHATEVERREASON THIS DOESNmTJUSTTURNOFFTHERELAYANDPOWER TOTHELOAD)TALSORE APPLIESALOGICHIGH TOTHE-2INPUTOFTHECOUNTER RESETTINGITANDPREVENTINGITFROMCOUNTING 3OTHEWHOLECIRCUITISRESET READYTO AWAITTHENEXTTRIGGERPULSEFROMTHE 0)2DETECTOR
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
N
RJ11 4-PIN MODULAR PLUG (TOP VIEW)
ALARM (NC)
TAMPER (NC)
A SUITABLE LENGTH OF 2-PAIR CABLE
N
A
Circuit details 4HE SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM SHOWN IN &IG PROVIDES ALL OF THE CIRCUIT DETAILS 4HE 0)2 DETECTOR CONNECTS TO THE CIRCUIT VIA #/. A lMODULARm TELEPHONE TYPE CONNECTOR )T RECEIVES 6POWERVIAPINSANDOF#/. WHILE ITS OUTPUT SWITCHING CONTACTS ARECONNECTEDTOPINSAND0IN
2EPRODUCEDBYARRANGEMENT WITH3),)#/.#()0 MAGAZINE WWWSILICONCHIPCOMAU
CONNECTSTOTHETWOINPUTSOF3CHMITT GATE)#A TIEDTOGETHERSOTHATITFORMS THEINPUTINVERTER!SYOUCANSEE THE INPUTPINSARECONNECTEDTO 6VIAA K:RESISTORTHEEQUIVALENTOF2IN &IG WHILETHEYAREALSOCONNECTEDTO GROUNDVIAAN&CAPACITORTOBYPASS ANY2&SIGNALSWHICHMAYBEPICKED UPBYTHECABLEFROMTHE0)2DETECTOR
35
Constructional Project
connector mounted on the front panel (the box lid) adjacent to the mains output sockets. The wiring is the same, but take the changed position into account. Transformer T1 and the mains relay (RLY1) are bolted into the bottom of the box alongside the PC board, while the two mains outlet sockets and manual turn-off switch (S1) are mounted in the Same-size photo clearly shows component placement on the PC board lid of the box (which forms the front panel). Rotary switch S2 actually mounts (Once upon a time all we had to worry The relay coil is connected to +17V on the PC board, but its control shaft is about was radio stations. Now there’s via a 68: 5W resistor for current limitleft at its full length, so that it protrudes TV, mobile phones, cordless phones, ing. Diode D6 is connected across the through a matching hole in the lid, to WiFi, Bluetooth, video/audio senders relay coil to protect Q1 from damage, BEÚTTEDWITHASMALLPOINTERKNOB and even wireless doorbells to cause due to the inductive ‘spike’ when the problems on long cables). relay de-energises. LED2 and its 1k: Circuit board Cross-coupled gates IC1d and IC1b series resistor are also connected across FORMTHE3 2ÛIP ÛOP WITHTHEOUTPUT the relay coil, to indicate when the relay The overlay/wiring diagram of Fig.3 of IC1d (pin 11) forming its Q output – and therefore load power – is ‘ON’. shows not only where all components and that from IC1b (pin 4) forming the The project’s power supply uses go on the PC board (and their orienQ output. IC2 is a 4060B device, which a small (2VA) power transformer T1 tation), but it also shows the wiring not only provides our 14-stage binary DRIVINGAFOUR DIODEBRIDGERECTIÚERTO connected to the off-board components counter, but also its clock oscillator produce the unregulated output (about and which joints need to be provided as well. The two resistors and 680nF 17V), which operates the relay. Regulawith heatshrink sleeves, to prevent capacitor connected between pins 9, 10 tor REG1 then derives a regulated 12V accidental contact when the box is and 11 of IC2 set the clock frequency LINEFROMTHERECTIÚEROUTPUTTOPROVIDE opened. So, if you follow all aspects to 0.9375Hz. In reality, it will not be power for the rest of the circuit and of this diagram carefully, you should anywhere near as precise. the PIR detector. LED1 and its series be able to build up the unit both safely !S EXPLAINED EARLIER THE 3 2 ÛIP1k: resistor are connected across the and successfully. ÛOPmSQ output (pin 4 of IC1) is used 12V supply to indicate when power Note that there are six wire links to control the counter’s operation by is applied to the switch unit and PIR ALL INCH LONG TO BE ÚTTED TO THE pulling the MR input of IC2 (pin 12) detector. PC board, preferably before any of the high to prevent counting, or pulling it COMPONENTS ARE ÚTTED BECAUSE THIS Construction low to allow it to count. is the easiest time to do so. After the The remaining gate of IC1 (IC1c) is There are two parts to this circuit – LINKS ARE ÚTTED ITmS A GOOD IDEA TO ÚT used to form the inverter for the S-R the low voltage side (which mounts on the seven PC pins, three of which are ÛIP ÛOPmSRESETINPUT/NEINPUTOFTHIS a small PC board) and the mains wiring. used to make the connections from the gate is tied to +12V, while the other input The small PCB, code 798, is available secondary of mains transformer T1; (pin 8) is pulled down to earth by a 15k: from the EPE PCB Service. two are for the relay coil connections, resistor (equivalent to R2 in Fig.1) and )TALLÚTSINSIDEASTANDARD5" SIZE while the remaining two pins are used coupled to the rotor of switch S2 via a (197mm × 113mm × 63mm) plastic box, for the wires connecting switch S1. 22nF capacitor, which corresponds to with room left for the off-board (mains) .EXT ÚTTHE$),SOCKETSFOR)#AND C1 in Fig.1. Manual turn off switch S1 components: the IEC mains input plug, )# MAKING SURE YOU ÚT THEM WITH also connects between pin 8 and +12V. power transformer T1, relay RLY1, the their ‘notch’ end towards the left, so TWOÛUSH MOUNTMAINSOUTLETSOCKETS THAT THEYmLL GUIDE YOU LATER IN ÚTTING Relay driver and manual turn-off switch S1. the ICs with the correct orientation. The Q output of IC1 (pin 11) is also In our prototype, the IEC mains input .OW ÚT #/. THE 2* MODULAR connected to the base of transistor Q1, connector is mounted in the left-hand CONNECTOR WHICHÚTSATTHELEFT HAND via a 10k: series resistor. Q1 is the reend of the box. However, we have end of the board. A note here: the PC lay driver, which energises relay RLY1 been informed that production kits board pattern will also accommodate when it conducts. from Jaycar will probably have the IEC a 4-way PC-mounting screw terminal
36
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project THEENDOFTHEBOX)TmSFASTENEDINTOTHE MATCHINGHOLEVIAAPAIROFMMLONG COUNTERSINK HEAD-MACHINESCREWS ÚTTEDWITHSTARLOCKWASHERSANDNUTSON THEINSIDE-OUNTTHEPOWERTRANSFORMER4INTHEBOTTOMOFTHEBOX USING ANOTHER PAIR OF - COUNTERSINK HEAD MM LONGSCREWSWITHÛATWASHERS STARLOCKWASHERSANDNUTS /NCEITmSINPOSITION ÚTANOTHERSTAR LOCKWASHER TO THE MOUNTING SCREW NEARER THE )%# MAINS PLUG AND THEN SLIPONASOLDERLUG FOLLOWEDBYAFURTHERLOCKWASHERANDÚNALLYASECOND NUT4IGHTENTHISLASTNUTÚRMLYWITH ANUTDRIVERORTUBESPANNERSOTHEREmS NO CHANCE OF THE SOLDER LUG COMING LOOSE4HELUGISUSEDTOCONNECTTHE TRANSFORMER CORE AND FRAME TO MAINS EARTH FORSAFETY .OWRELAY2,9CANBEBOLTEDINTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX IN MUCH THE SAMEWAY EXCEPTTHATITSPLASTICCASE NEEDSNOEARTHING3OINTHISCASE JUST USEAPAIROFMM¯-COUNTERSINK HEAD SCREWS WITH ÛAT WASHERS STAR LOCKWASHERSANDNUTS
Wiring
Opened-out view of the completed project. Note the heatshrink covering any exposed mains and the Presspahn shield over the mains outlet sockets. This photo ISªOFªTHEªlRSTªPROTOTYPE ªWHICHªUSEDªAª$).ª0)2ªINPUTªSOCKETªnªNOWªCHANGEDªTOª EITHERªANª2*ªPHONE TYPEªSOCKETªORªAª WAYª0#ªBOARDªSCREWªTERMINALªBLOCK
block, if you would rather ‘hard wire’ the PIR to the PC board. !FTERTHIS ÚTROTARYSWITCH3 NOTINGTHATITNEEDSTOBEORIENTATEDWITH ITSINDEXINGSPIGOTINTHElNORTH EASTm POSITION!FTERMOUNTINGIT YOUNEED TOREMOVEITSNUT STARLOCKWASHERAND POSITIONSTOPPLATE THENREÚTTHESEIN REVERSE ORDER AFTER MAKING SURE THE STOPPLATEmSLOCATINGPINISENTERINGTHE SLOTTEDHOLEBETWEENTHElmANDlm NUMERALSMOULDEDINTOTHETOPOFTHE SWITCHBODY4HISISTOENSURETHATTHE SWITCHISSETFORPOSITIONS /NCE3ISINPLACEANDSETCORRECTLY ÚTTHEVARIOUSRESISTORSANDSMALLERUNPOLARISEDCAPACITORS&OLLOWTHESEWITH THE P& AND P& ELECTROlytics, WHICH ARE OF COURSE POLARISED q SO ÚT THESE CAREFULLY ACCORDING TO THE OVERLAYDIAGRAM&IG 4HENÚTSIGNALDIODE$ANDTHEÚVE POWER DIODES $ TO $ FOLLOWED BY TRANSISTOR1ANDREGULATOR2%'.OTE THAT BOTH 1 AND 2%' ARE MOUNTED
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
HORIZONTALLYANDEACHDEVICEISÚTTED WITHORON ASMALL5 SHAPED4/ TYPE HEATSINK WITH A MM LONG - MACHINESCREWANDNUTUSEDTOCLAMP THEMINPLACEONTHETOPOFTHEBOARD 4HE NEXT COMPONENTS TO ÚT TO THE BOARDARE,%$AND,%$4HESENEED TO HAVE THEIR LEADS EXTENDED USING MMLENGTHSOFHOOKUPWIRE SOTHAT THE BODY OF EACH ,%$ WILL PROTRUDE THROUGHTHEMATCHINGHOLESINTHEBOX LIDWHENTHISISÚTTED5SEHOOKUPWIRE WITHREDINSULATIONTOEXTENDTHELONGER ,%$ ANODE ! LEADS AND WIRE WITH BLACKINSULATIONTOEXTENDTHECATHODE # LEADS4HENYOUSHOULDNmTHAVEANY TROUBLEÚTTINGTHEEXTENDEDLEADSTOTHE BOARDCORRECTLYqTHEREDANODELEADSGO TOWARDSTHEREAROFTHEBOARD ANDTHE BLACKCATHODELEADSTOWARDSTHEFRONT
Off-board components 9OUR0#BOARDASSEMBLYISNOWJUST ABOUTCOMPLETE SOPLACEITASIDEWHILE YOUÚTTHE)%#MAINSINPUTPLUGINTO
.EXTISAMMLENGTHOFMAINS RATED ÚGURE WIRE USEDTOCONNECT3TOTHE BOARDJUSTBEFORETHEBOXLIDISÚTTED 3OLDERONEENDTOTHE0#PINSMARKED l3mONTHE0#BOARDANDLEAVETHEOTHER ENDFORTHEMOMENT 7E SPECIFY MAINS RATED CABLE HERE DUE TO THE FACT THAT INSIDE THE BOX IS MAINSWIRING WHICHWHILETHECHANCE ISVERYREMOTE COULDPOSSIBLYCOME LOOSEANDMOVEAROUND4HEÚGURE ITSELFONLYCARRIESLOWVOLTAGE BUTITS INSULATION IS MAINS RATED TO PREVENT ANYPOSSIBLECONTACT !T THIS STAGE YOU CAN MOUNT THE 0#BOARDASSEMBLYINTOTHEBOXUSING FOUR MM LONG - TAPPED SPACERS WITH FOUR MM LONG ¯ - COUNTERSINK HEAD NYLON MACHINE SCREWS TO ATTACHTHESPACERSTOTHEBOTTOMOFTHE BOXANDFOURMM LONGPANHEAD- SCREWSTOATTACHTHEBOARDTOTHETOP OFTHESPACERS !GAIN NYLON SCREWS ARE SPECIÚED lJUSTINCASEmqTHESESCREWSPASSFROM THEINSIDEOFTHECASE WHERETHEREIS MAINSWIRING TOTHEOUTSIDE 4HENYOUCANMAKETHECONNECTIONS BETWEENTHESECONDARYWINDINGOF4 ANDTHETHREE0#PINSONTHEBOARDJUST NEAR4$OTHISBYCUTTINGALLTHREELEADS TO ABOUT MM LONG REMOVING ABOUT MMOFINSULATIONFROMTHEENDOFEACH
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Constructional Project Parts List – PIR-Triggered Mains Switch
Here’s a close-up view of the Presspahn insulation over the mains outlet sockets just before it was secured in place.
wire and then soldering them to the terminal pins. The two wires with yellow insulation connect to the outer pins, while the wire with white insulation connects to the centre pin. After this, prepare two 60mm lengths of mains-rated insulated hookup wire by baring about 5mm of wire at each end, ANDTHENÚTTINGAFEMALElQUICKCONNECTmSPADECONNECTOR to one end of each wire. Next, slip a 25mm length of 6mm diameter heatshrink sleeving over each connector, and use a hot air gun or the barrel of your soldering iron to shrink the sleeves down snugly around each connector. !FTERTHIS TINTHEOTHERENDOFEACHWIREANDÚNALLY SOLDER them to the PC board terminal pins just to the left of the heatsink for Q1. These wires are used to connect between the board and the relay coil lugs of RLY1 – these are the two CLOSER SPACEDLUGSONITSLEFTASSUMINGYOUmVEÚTTEDITTHE correct way around). So, once the wires have been soldered TOTHE0#BOARDPINS PUSHTHEIRQUICKCONNECTORENDSDOWN ÚRMLYOVERTHERELAYLUGSASFARASTHEYmLLGO .EXT ÚTTHETWOÛUSH MOUNTINGMAINSOUTLETSOCKETSTO THELIDOFTHEBOX ANDALSOÚTPUSHBUTTONSWITCH3INTOITS hole in the lid near the other end. If you now turn the lid and place it near the right-hand end of the box, you should be able to add all of the remaining off-board mains wiring between the IEC mains plug, the primary winding of T1, the switching contacts of RLY1 and the mains outlets. Do this by carefully following the overlay/wiring diagram (Fig.3), which shows all of the wiring fairly clearly. How do you know if the insulation on the cable you WANTTOUSEISMAINS RATED !GOODSOURCEOFlGUARANTEEDm mains-rated cable is from a length of discarded mains lead. )TmSALWAYSHANDYTOKEEPSOMEINTHEJUNKBOXFORPURPOSES such as this.
Mains connector Each of the three terminals (L, N and E) on the IEC mains input connector has two wires connected to it First the earth: a short length of green/yellow mainsrated wire is used to make the connection between the IEC CONNECTORmSCENTREEARTHLUGANDTHESOLDERLUGÚTTEDTOTHE left-hand end of T1, while another much longer piece of the same wire (~160mm) is used to connect to the earth connection of each mains outlet socket. Both wires should BESOLDEREDTOGETHERTOTHE)%#PLUGmSCENTRELUG TOENSURE a good reliable connection for them both.
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1 PC board, code 798, available from the EPE PCB Service, size 147mm × 69mm 1 UB2-size plastic box, 197mm × 113mm × 63mm 1 PIR sensor (see text) 2 Heatsinks, 19mm square TO-220 type 1 Pushbutton switch, SPST (S1) 1 Rotary switch, 1-pole 12-position (S2) 1 Pointer knob with removable pointer inset 1 6-pin RJ12 socket, PC board mtg (CON1) or 3-way PC board mounting terminal block (see text) 1 14-pin DIL IC socket (for IC1) 1 16-pin DIL IC socket (for IC2) 1 Power transformer, 12.6V/2VA, 2851 type 1 20A mains-rated relay, chassis mtg (RLY1) 1 IEC mains plug, panel mounting 2 Mains sockets, flush mounting panel type 4 15mm-long M3 tapped spacer 10 Nylon M3 machine screws, 10mm-long CSK head 6 M3 machine screws, 6mm-long pan head 8 M3 nuts with flat and star lockwashers 1 Solder lug 8 Nylon cable ties, 100mm long 6 Quick connectors, female spade type 6 25mm lengths of 6mm diameter heatshrink tubing 7 PC board terminal pins, 1mm diameter 1 90 × 104mm piece ‘Presspahn’ or similar insulation Semiconductors 1 4093B quad Schmitt NAND (IC1) 1 4060B binary counter (IC2) 1 7812 12V regulator (REG1) 1 BD139 NPN transistor (Q1) 1 5mm LED, green (LED1) 1 5mm LED, red (LED2) 1 1 N4148 silicon diode (D1) 5 1N4004 1A power diode (D2-D6) Capacitors 1 2200PF 25V RB electrolytic 1 22PF 16V RB electrolytic 1 680nF metallised polyester 3 100nF metallised polyester 1 22nF metallised polyester Resistors (0.25W 1% unless specified) 1 1M: 1 15k: 3 10k: 1 68:/5W wirewound
2 1k:
The design of this kit and PC board are Copyright (C) to Jaycar Electronics. Kits (cat no KC5455) will be available from Jaycar Electronics – see their ad. The mains (live and neutral) wires are not soldered to THELUGSONTHE)%#SOCKET BUTCONNECTEDVIAQUICK CONNECT female spade connectors. Each of these connectors has a MMLENGTHOFHEATSHRINKINSULATIONÚTTEDSOTHATTHEYARE completely covered. Cut two 25mm lengths of heatshrink, pass the two wires through and slide the heatshrink well up before soldering. Otherwise they may shrink from the heat of
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project
soldering before you get them over the quick-connect spade terminals. The ‘L’ terminal of the IEC connector has the brown (live) wire from the transformer primary, along with a 160mm-long mains-rated wire with brown insulation, which goes to one of the switching terminals of the relay, again via a quick-connect female spade connector. Another, similar, length of THESAMEWIREALSOÚTTEDWITHANINsulated spade connector) goes from the other switching terminal of the relay with its opposite end going to both the ‘L’ screw terminals of the mains sockets. The second primary wire from the transformer (with blue insulation) attaches via an insulated female spade terminal to the ‘N’ terminal of the IEC connector, along with an even longer wire (about 300mm) whose opposite end screws into both the ‘N’ terminals of the mains output sockets. When you have soldered all wires to their female spade connectors, slide the lengths of heatshrink back down the wires so that the connectors are fully covered, then shrink with a heat gun. When you push the female connectors onto their appropriate male spade terminals, there must be no exposed mains wiring or metalwork visible. Once you’ve completed the mains wiring, it’s a good idea to tidy it all up using about six small cable ties as shown in the overlay diagram. This doesn’t just make the wiring look tidier; it also helps ensure that in the unlikely event of a live wire breaking off anywhere, it can’t ‘wander’ far enough to make contact with any of the low voltage wiring. 7ITH THE CABLE TIES ÚTTED THE NEXT step is to swing the box lid around so it’s just in front of the box, so you can solder the two wires coming from the PC board pins (just to the left of the socket for IC1) to the lugs on the rear of pushbutton S1. We also covered these joins in heatshrink – just in case.
Insulating shield You will note from our photographs that we also shielded the two mains outlet sockets with an insulating material – again, just in case. In the past, the most usual material to use was a product called ‘Presspahn’ but that is BECOMING RATHER DIFÚCULT TO GET THESE days (at least in small quantities). We used a piece of cardboard which has a PVC insulation on one side. Other ideas that spring to mind are
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
BEND DOWN 90 o 25mm 7mm
BEND DOWN 90 o
40mm
BEND DOWN 90 o 25mm
7mm
BEND UP 90 o 90mm
Fig.5: the detail for the insulating shield over the mains outlet sockets. It secures under the outlet backs.
thin plastic or perhaps a sheet of plastic laminated paper. The U-shaped shield, the dimension OFWHICHARESHOWNIN&IG ISÚXED to the case by slightly undoing the mains socket mounting screws and ‘sandwiching’ the insulation between the back of the mains socket and the case (tightening the screws again to keep it in place).
Final assembly !FTERTHIS THEÚNALASSEMBLYSTEPISTO plug the two ICs into their sockets, makINGSUREYOUÚTTHEMWITHTHEIRlNOTCHm ends towards the left in each case. The internal wiring of your PIR Triggered Mains Switch will now be complete and you can swing the box lid up and lower it into position, carefully making sure that the control spindle of S2 and the two LEDs pass through their corresponding holes and that no internal wiring is pinched between box and lid. 9OU SHOULD THEN BE ABLE TO ÚT THE pointer knob to S2’s spindle, and also screw the lid down using the four small self-tapping screws provided. )FYOUÚNDTHEPOINTERONTHEKNOB doesn’t point to the right place, the knob SPECIÚEDHASASMALLINSETPLATEATTHE top, which can be prised off and rotated to get the pointer in the correct position.
PIR wiring There is no testing or adjustment procedure required for this project; it should operate as soon as power is applied. However, you will, no doubt, have to make up a cable to connect the project to the PIR detector unit you have chosen to use with it. Needless to say, the cable will need to be long enough to run for the distance between them.
It should be very easy to make up the cable, because we’ve made the connector for the Switch end an RJ12 modular socket and used only the four centre pins of it. As a result, you can make the cable easily by ‘converting’ a standard low-cost modular telephone extension lead, sold in lengths up to at LEASTM4HESELEADSAREÚTTEDWITH an RJ12 (6P/4C) plug at each end, so all you need to do is cut off the RJ12 plug at one end, and then remove the outer sleeve at that end to reveal the four wires, which will be used to connect to the PIR Detector’s terminals. The PC board also has provision for a standard 3-way terminal block if you prefer to wire the PIR detector in that way. Both inputs are shown on the overlay diagram. The way to make the connections at the PIR Detector end of the cable is shown in Fig.4. As you can see, it’s quite straightforward: the 12V power wires from pins 2 and 5 of the RJ12 plug connect to the positive and negative power terminals, while the wires from pins 3 and 4 of the plug connect to the two end terminals of the four provided for connections to the normally closed ‘detect’ contacts and the ‘tamper’ (or box opening) sensor switch. Then the two centre terminals are linked by a short length of wire, as shown, to connect the two pairs of normally closed contacts in series.
In use That’s about it. Connect up the PIR Detector to your completed Switch Unit and also connect a 230V IEC power lead to the Switch Unit’s IEC input PLUG !T POWER UP YOU SHOULD ÚND that the green power LED (LED1) on the Switch Unit will turn on to show that the circuit is active. As soon as the PIR Detector senses any movement, the Switch Unit’s red LED2 should also turn on to indicate that the mains switch has been triggered on. It should continue glowing for whatever period of time corresponds to the setting of switch S2 – anywhere between 7.5 seconds and 128 minutes. If you plug some lights into one of the Switch Unit’s mains outlets, they should also receive power for the same period of time following a trigger event. Check that the timing period is correct (see comment earlier about moving the pointer on the knob) and also check that pushbutton S1 turns off the load power (and LED2) when pressed. EPE
39
Constructional Project A simple way to copy slides onto your computer’s hard drive
A Quick’n’Easy Digital Slide ‘Scanner’
Design by BRIAN COULSON
Do you have a large collection of slides which are deteriorating by the day? Are they growing mouldy or becoming discoloured? Then there is no time to waste. Get them onto your computer’s hard drive before it is too late. This method is very quick, simple and does not require any electronics.
W
E’RE SURE a lot of readers would be familiar with this problem, because many people have large collections of slides (transparencies) which they have collected over the years, or boxes inherited as older generations pass on. They’re often of too much sentimental value to throw out, so they sit in the back of a cupboard somewhere, not seeing the light of day for perhaps decades. But if you have looked at any of them recently, you may well be horRIÚED AT THEIR DETERIORATION 3LIDES suffer from two main problems – they discolour or they grow mouldy.
To scan a transparency properly, you need a scanner designed for the purpose. And they don’t come all that cheap (unless you can pick one up on eBay – and if you want one, there are quite a few to choose from!). But there is a method available to anyone with a reasonable digital camERASAYÚVEMEGAPIXELSORBETTER WITH a macro lens). With that, you already have most of the solution. With the simple set-up
described here, you can rapidly scan a lot of slides – much more quickly than if you used a specialised scanner.
It’s cheap, and works reasonably well! We must point out that the method described here can never achieve as good a result as you would get from a dedicated slide scanner. In fact, we did an A:B comparison with our Canon slide scanner and
Preservation So how do you preserve your priceless family history? If you don’t do something soon, it may well be too late to recover any image at all. Once an image starts to deteriorate, it keeps ONDETERIORATING!NDSOMESLIDEÚLMS of yesteryear are well known for deteriorating virtually from day one! Perhaps you even have a scanner – but have been putting it off for a rainy day when you will ‘get down to it’. 5NFORTUNATELY MOST ÛAT BED SCANners are not suitable for scanning slides BECAUSETHEIRLIGHTSOURCEISREÛECTIVE NOT TRANSMISSIVE %VEN ÛAT BED SCANners with transparency adaptors are seldom ideal, being a compromise.
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Reproduced by arrangement with SILICON CHIP magazine 2011. www.siliconchip.com.au
A light source (40W bulb mounted in a tin can!), a slide holder with an ice-cream CARTONªLIDª@NEUTRAL DENSITYªlLTERªANDªAªDIGITALªCAMERAªWITHªMACROªLENSªnªTHATSªALLª there is to this ‘you-beaut’ digital slide scanner!
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Constructional Project
Here’s the result we achieved using the set-up described here. It’s not too bad, considering the simplicity – but you would not be able to enlarge it much beyond postcard size. The other BIG advantage is that this took about 10 seconds to set up and capture.
found that while the method works, and is fast, the comparison of quality of resultant picture is chalk and cheese, especially if you want to enlarge the image beyond postcard size. We’ve reproduced a couple of images from our experiments to show the difference. We used both a 5MP Fuji ‘happy snap’ (albeit with macro FUNCTION ANDA-0.IKON$3,2ÚTted with a quality macro lens. There wasn’t much difference. We found that we could print both to postcard size; any larger and the quick method resulted in quite markedly inferior results. Having said that, we know that by far the lion’s share of prints made from digital images are no bigger than postcard size, so this limitation may not even be of much concern. It’s certainly good enough to share among family members. If you have a digital camera, give it a go: you have nothing to lose except a bit of time!
The set-up The complete set-up consists of a digital camera, a slide holder, which doubles as a glare shield and a light source. The camera shown in these photos is a Ricoh 3MP with macro. Its minimum focus distance (macro) is 12mm. It was used in the macro mode; the distance from the lens (extended) to the slide was about 25mm. But as already noted, we think you SHOULDUSEAÚVE MEGAPIXELCAMERA as a minimum (they are becoming remarkably cheap these days).
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
For comparison, this is from our dedicated Canon 4000AS Slide 3CANNERª/VERALL ªTHEªDElNITIONªISªQUITEªAªLOTªBETTERªnªBUTªTHISªTOOKª about ten minutes to set up, scan and save! Limitations of the offset printing process may not show the resolution, but this could be enlarged to A3+ without problems.
The method is very simple. A slide is placed in the holder, which is backlit by a standard 230V/240V AC 40W incanDESCENTBULB!NEUTRALDENSITYÚLTER placed behind the slide stops it getting too hot, while at the same time ensures that the light is evenly distributed. The camera is focussed onto the slide, you press the button and you are done. You only have to focus the camera once, as it remains in position for each shot. Once you get into the swing of things, removing and replacing slides and pressing the shutter button, you can scan slides at the rate of one every few seconds. You can certainly get through a batch of a few hundred in under an hour. Take it from us; this is very much faster than you could do it with a specialised slide scanner. After you have done a batch, you can download the shots into your computer for further processing with Photoshop or similar photo-processing software. You could then print them on your own colour inkjet or laser, or simply take A#$ORÛASHMEMORYSTICKTOTHELOCAL digital processor to get them printed. The slide holder is very basic and we are sure that readers will be able to COMEUPWITHMOREREÚNEDVERSIONS if they wish. As you can see from the photo, it consists of a piece of timber with a block at one end to place it on a slope. The slide holder was made from two pieces of ‘3-ply’, with appropriate cutouts, glued together. Note that the holder is open on the camera side, which makes for faster loading of the slide.
Having the unit on a slope helps hold the slide in position, as well as making it easier to view the camera’s REARÚXEDSCREEN!LTHOUGHTHEFEATURED camera only has auto focus in the macro mode, this did not prove a problem, as it focuses in about a second. The overall dimensions of the slide holder may seem larger than necessary, but it also functions as a light shield when you are working at the camera end.
Light source The light source is a standard clear 40W Crompton Fancy Round incandescent lamp, mounted in a standard CORDGRIPLAMPHOLDERANDÚTTEDINSIDE an 825ml fruit tin. The clear lamp was found to give better lighting than a 40W frosted lamp. The fruit tin protects the light from physical damage and prevents contact with the very hot bulb. The tin itself gets quite hot, but not nearly as hot as the naked bulb, and it prevents local GLAREANDLIGHTÛARE The neutral density diffuser on the slide holder is a piece of white plastic cut from an ice-cream container. So there you are: a crude and simple jig for scanning all those slides. It does not need to be anything fancy, although we would be inclined to make a better mounting arrangement for the CAMERA SOTHATIFITISSETUPFORÚXED focus, it will not move around while you shoot each slide. Our thanks to Brian Coulson for coming up with this very simple set-up. EPE
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PIC Training Course
PH28 Training Course £193 PIC training and Visual C# training combined into one course. This is the same as the P928 course with an extra book teaching about serial communication. The first two books and the programmer module are the same as the P928. The third book starts with very simple PC to PIC experiments. We use PC assembler to flash the LEDs on the programmer module and write text to the LCD. Then we learn to use Visual C# on the PC. Flash the LEDs, write text to the LCD, gradually creating more complex routines until a full digital storage oscilloscope is created. (Postage & ins UK £10, Europe £22, rest of world £34).
BSPWA version 7.2
P928-X PIC Training Course £168 The best place to begin learning about microcontrollers is the PIC16F1827, the new, incredible value, 18 pin PIC. All the features of the PIC16F627A plus an analogue to digital converter, four times as much memory, and 10% cheaper. Yet it is just as easy to programme. Our PIC training course starts in the very simplest way. At the heart of our system are two real books which lie open on your desk while you use your computer to type in the programme and control the hardware. Start with four simple programmes. Run the simulator to see how they work. Test them with real hardware. Follow on with a little theory..... Our PIC training course consists of our PIC programmer, a 318 page book teaching the fundamentals of PIC programming, a 304 page book introducing the C language, and a suite of programmes to run on a PC. The module uses a PIC to handle the timing, programming and voltage switching. Two ZIF sockets allow most 8, 18, 28 and 40 pin PICs to be programmed. The programming is performed at 5 volts, verified with 2 volts or 3 volts and verified again with 5.5 volts to ensure that the PIC works over its full operating voltage. UK orders include a plugtop power supply. P928-X PIC Training & Development Course comprising..... Enhanced 16F and 18F PIC programmer module + Book Experimenting with PIC Microcontrollers + Book Experimenting with PIC C 5th Edition + PIC assembler and C compiler software on CD + PIC16F1827, PIC16F1936 and PIC18F2321 test PICs + USB adaptor and USB cable. . . . . . . . . . . £168.00 (Postage & insurance UK £10, Europe £18, Rest of world £27)
Exactly the same text as you type into our PIC assembler BSPWA can be used in the official Microchip assembler MPASM. The difference is that BSPWA has been designed so beginners can concentrate on learning to programme PICs without the worry of the complications of MPASM. Later if you do need to use MPASM you will find your existing text runs just as well. But BSPWA is not a simple PIC assembler. It is extremely easy to get started, with very obvious buttons to click (the next button to click turns green). But as you become experienced you will appreciate the complex features. There are three independent editors screen 1, 2, and 3 which streamline editing, and a system for yellow highlighting the differences between screens 1 and 2, and a sophisticated selectable library for creating the subroutine text for a new project. For details of BSPWA see www.brunningsoftware.co.uk/BSPWAv7.htm.
Ordering Information Our P928 course is supplied with a USB adaptor and USB lead as standard. All software referred to in this advertisement will operate within Windows XP, NT, 2000, Vista, 7 etc. Telephone with Visa, MasterCard or Switch, or send cheque/PO. All prices include VAT if applicable.
Experimenting with PIC Microcontrollers This book introduces PIC programming by jumping straight in with four easy experiments. The first is explained over seven pages assuming no starting knowledge of PICs. Then having gained some experience we study the basic principles of PIC programming, learn about the 8 bit timer, how to drive the liquid crystal display, create a real time clock, experiment with the watchdog timer, sleep mode, beeps and music, including a rendition of Beethoven’s Fur Elise. Then there are two projects to work through, using a PIC as a sinewave generator, and monitoring the power taken by domestic appliances. Then we adapt the experiments to use the PIC18F2321. In the space of 24 experiments, two projects and 56 exercises we work through from absolute beginner to experienced engineer level using the very latest PICs.
Experimenting with PIC C The second book starts with an easy to understand explanation of how to write simple PIC programmes in C. Then we begin with four easy experiments to learn about loops. We use the 8/16 bit timers, write text and variables to the LCD, use the keypad, produce a siren sound, a freezer thaw warning device, measure temperatures, drive white LEDs, control motors, switch mains voltages, and experiment with serial communication. Web site:- www.brunningsoftware.co.uk
White LED and Motors Our PIC training system uses a very practical approach. Towards the end of the PIC C book circuits need to be built on the plugboard. The 5 volt supply which is already wired to the plugboard has a current limit setting which ensures that even the most severe wiring errors will not be a fire hazard and are very unlikely to damage PICs or other ICs. We use a PIC16F1827 as a freezer thaw monitor, as a step up switching regulator to drive 3 ultra bright white LEDs, and to control the speed of a DC motor with maximum torque still available. A kit of parts can be purchased (£31) to build the circuits using the white LEDs and the two motors. See our web site for details.
Mail order address:
138 The Street, Little Clacton, Clacton-on-sea, Essex, CO16 9LS. Tel 01255 862308
Teach-In 2011
TEACH-IN 2011 A BROAD-BASED INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS Part 6: Logic circuits By Mike and Richard Tooley
Our Teach-In series is designed to provide you with a broad-based introduction to electronics. We have attempted to provide coverage of three of the most important electronics units that are currently studied in many schools and colleges in the UK. These include Edexcel BTEC Level 2 awards, as well as electronics units of the new Diploma in Engineering (also at Level 2). The series will also provide the more experienced READERªWITHªANªOPPORTUNITYªTOª@BRUSHªUPªONªSPECIlCªTOPICSªWITHªWHICHªHEªORªSHEªMAYªBEªLESSªFAMILIARª %ACHªPARTªOFªOURª4EACH )NªSERIESªISªORGANISEDªUNDERªlVEªMAINªHEADINGSª,EARN ª#HECK ª"UILD ª)NVESTIGATEªANDª !MAZEª,EARNªWILLªTEACHªYOUªTHEªTHEORY ª#HECKªWILLªHELPªYOUªTOªCHECKªYOURªUNDERSTANDING ªANDª"UILDªWILLªGIVEª you an opportunity to build and test simple electronic circuits. Investigate will provide you with a challenge WHICHªWILLªALLOWªYOUªTOªFURTHERªEXTENDªYOURªLEARNING ªANDªlNALLY ª!MAZEªWILLªSHOWªYOUªTHEª@WOWªFACTORªª N THIS instalment of Teach-In we introduce the basic building blocks of digital circuits. We explain the operation of each of the most common types of logic gate and show how they can be combined together in order to solve more complex logic problems. We also introduce bistable circuits and show how they can be used to remember a momentary event. We shall be using Circuit Wizard to investigate each of the basic logic gates before moving on to explore some applications. Finally, in Amaze we look at how recent advances in technology have provided us with digital circuits that are capable of operation at speeds that are increasingly fast.
I
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Learn Digital logic Logic circuits are the basic building blocks of digital circuits and systems. Logic circuits have inputs and outputs that can only exist in one of two discrete states, variously known as ‘on’ and ‘off’, ‘high’ and ‘low’, or ‘1’ and ‘0’. Logic circuits usually have several inputs and one or more outputs. At any instant of time, the state of the inputs will determine the state of the output, according to the logic function provided by the circuit. If this is beginning to sound a little complicated, let’s look at a couple of simple logic functions that can be SATISÚEDUSINGNOTHINGMORETHANA
couple of switches and a lamp and battery. Consider the circuit shown in Fig.6.1. In this circuit, a battery is connected to a lamp via two switches, A and B. It should be obvious that the lamp will only operate when both of the switches are closed (ie, both A AND B are closed). Let’s look at the operation of the circuit in a little more detail. Since there are two switches (A and B) and there are two possible states for each switch (open or closed), there is a total of four possible conditions for the circuit. We have summarised these states in Fig.6.2. Note that the two states (ie, open or closed) are mutually exclusive
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Teach-In 2011
Fig.6.2. Possible states for the circuit of Fig.6.1 Fig.6.1. AND switch and lamp logic
Fig.6.3 (right). Truth table for the AND switch and lamp logic
Fig.6.5. Possible states for the circuit of Fig. 6.4 Fig.6.4. OR switch and lamp logic
and that the switches cannot exist in any other state than completely open or completely closed. Because of this, we can represent the state of the switches using the binary digits, 0 and 1, where an open switch is represented by 0 and a closed switch by a 1. Furthermore, if we assume that ‘no light’ is represented by a 0 and ‘light on’ is represented by a 1, we can rewrite Fig.6.2 in the form of a truth table, as shown in Fig.6.3. Another circuit with two switches is shown in Fig.6.4. This circuit differs from that shown in Fig.6.1 by virtue of the fact that the two switches are connected in parallel rather than in series. In this case, the lamp will operate when either of the two switches is closed (in other words, when A OR B is closed). As before, there is a total of four possible conditions for the circuit. We can summarise these conditions in Fig.6.5. Once again, adopting the convention that an open switch can be represented by 0 and a closed switch by 1, we can rewrite the truth table in terms of the binary states, as shown in Fig.6.6. Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Fig.6.6 (right). Truth table for the OR switch and lamp logic
The basic logic functions can be combined to produce circuits that satisfy a more complex logical operation. For example, Fig.6.7 shows a simple switching circuit in which the lamp will operate when switch A AND either switch B OR switch C is closed. The truth table for this arrangement is shown in Fig.6.8.
Logic gates Logic gates are building blocks that are designed to produce the
basic logic functions, AND, OR, NOT, etc. These circuits are designed to be interconnected into larger, more complex, logic circuit arrangements. Each gate type has its own symbol and we have shown both the British Standard (BS) symbol together with the more universally accepted American Standard (MIL/ANSI) symbol. Note that, while inverters and buffers each have only one input, exclusive-OR gates have two inputs and the other basic gates
Fig.6.7. Simple switching circuit using AND and OR logic Fig.6.8 (right). Truth table for the simple switching circuit shown in Fig.6.7
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Teach-In 2011
Fig.6.10. Logic gates with inverted outputs
Fig.6.11 (above). Majority vote logic circuit
Fig.6.9. Logic gate symbols and truth tables
(eg, AND, OR, NAND and NOR) are commonly available with up to eight inputs. Some of the logic gates shown in Fig.6.9 have inverted outputs. These gates are the NOT, NAND, NOR, and Exclusive-NOR and the small circle at the output of the gate (see Fig.6.10a) indicates this inversion. It is important to note that the output of an inverted gate (eg, NOR) is identical to that of the same (ie, non-inverted) function with its output connected to an inverter (or NOT gate) as shown in Fig.6.10b). The logical function of a logic gate can also be described using Boolean notation. In this type of notation, the 46
Fig.6.12 (right). Truth table for the majority vote logic circuit
OR function is represented by a ‘+’ SYMBOL THE!.$FUNCTIONBYAlpm sign, and the NOT function by an overscore or ‘/’. Thus the output, Y, of an OR gate with inputs A and B can be represented by the Boolean algebraic expression:
Buffers Y=A+B Similarly, the output of an AND gate can be shown as: 9 !p" 7ESHALLNOWBRIEÛYSUMMARISE the logic functions of each of the basic logic gates that we met earlier in Fig.6.9:
Buffers do not affect the logical state of a digital signal (ie, a logic 1 input results in a logic 1 output, and a logic 0 input results in a logic 0 output). Buffers are normally used to provide extra current drive at the output, but can also be used to regularise the logic levels present at an interface. The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of a buffer with an input, X, is Y = X.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Teach-In 2011 Boolean expression for the output, Y, of an exclusive-NOR gate with inputs, A and B, is 9 !p" "p!
Combinational logic
Fig.6.13. An exclusive-OR gate produced from AND, OR and NOT gates
Inverters Inverters are used to complement the logical state (ie, a logic 1 input results in a logic 0 output and vice versa). Inverters also provide extra current drive and, like buffers, are used in interfacing applications where they provide a means of regularising logic levels present at the input or output of a digital system. The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of an inverter with an input, X, is Y = /X.
AND gates AND gates will only produce a logic 1 output when all inputs are simultaneously at logic 1. Any other input combination results in a logic 0 output. The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of an AND gate WITHINPUTS !AND" IS9 !p"
OR gates OR gates will produce a logic 1 output whenever any one, or more inputs are at logic 1. Putting this another way, an OR gate will only produce a logic 0 output whenever all of its inputs are simultaneously at logic 0. The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of an OR gate with inputs, A and B, is Y = A + B.
NAND gates NAND (ie, NOT-AND) gates will only produce a logic 0 output when all inputs are simultaneously at logic 1. Any other input combination will produce a logic 1 output. A NAND gate, therefore, is nothing more than an AND gate with its Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
output inverted! The circle shown at the output denotes this inversion. The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of a NAND gate with inputs, !AND" IS9 !p"
NOR gates NOR (ie, NOT-OR) gates will only produce a logic 1 output when all inputs are simultaneously at logic 0. Any other input combination will produce a logic 0 output. A NOR gate, therefore, is simply an OR gate with its output inverted. A circle is again used to indicate inversion. The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of a NOR gate with inputs, A and B, is Y = A + B.
Exclusive-OR gates Exclusive-OR gates will produce a logic 1 output whenever either one of the two inputs is at logic 1 and the other is at logic 0. ExclusiveOR gates produce a logic 0 output whenever both inputs have the same logical state (ie, when both are at logic 0 or both are at logic 1). The Boolean expression for the output, Y, of an exclusive-OR gate WITHINPUTS !AND" IS9 !p " "p!
Exclusive-NOR gates Exclusive-NOR gates will produce a logic 0 output whenever either one of the two inputs is at logic 1 and the other is at logic 0. ExclusiveNOR gates produce a logic 1 output whenever both inputs have the same logical state (ie, when both are at logic 0 or both are at logic 1). The
The basic logic gates can be combined together to solve more complex logic functions. This is made possible by adopting a standard range of logic levels (ie, voltage levels used to represent the logic 1 and logic 0 states) so that the output of one logic circuit is compatible with the input of another. As an example, let’s assume that we require a logic circuit that will produce a logic 1 output whenever two, or more, of its three inputs are at logic 1. This circuit (shown in Fig.6.11) is often referred to as a majority vote circuit, and its truth table is shown in Fig.6.12. Note that the outputs of the three two-input AND gates are fed to the three inputs of the OR gate, and that the output of the OR gate will become logic 1 whenever any one or more of the two-input AND gates detects a condition in which two of the inputs are simultaneously at logic 1. As a further example, consider how we might combine several of the basic logic gates (AND, OR and NOT) in order to realise the exclusive-OR function. In order to solve this problem, consider the Boolean expression for the exclusive-OR function that we met earlier: 9 !p" "p! /A and /B can be obtained by simply inverting A and B respecTIVELY4HEN !p"AND"p!CAN be obtained using two two-input AND gates. Finally, these two can be applied to a two-input OR gate in order to obtain the required LOGICFUNCTION !p" "p! The complete solution is shown in Fig.6.13. 47
Teach-In 2011 Bistables Bistable circuits provide us with a means of remembering a transient logic condition. For example, the logic that controls a lift must remember that the lift has been called in response to a push-button that only requires momentary operation. As its name suggests, the output of a bistable (or ÝJQÝPQ) circuit has two stables states (logic 0 or logic 1). Once set, the output of a bistable will remain at logic 1 or logic FORANINDEÚNITEPERIOD ORUNTIL the bistable is reset. A bistable thus forms a simple form of memory, remaining in its latched state (either set or reset) until a signal is applied to it to change its state (or until the supply is disconnected). The simplest form of bistable is the R-S bistable. This device has two inputs, SET and RESET, and complementary outputs, Q and Q. A logic 1 applied to the SET input will cause the Q output to become (or remain at) logic 1, while a logic 1 applied to the RESET input will cause the Q output
Two simple forms of R-S bistable based on cross-coupled logic gates are shown in Fig.6.14. Fig.6.14(a) is based on two cross-coupled two-input NAND gates, while Fig.6.14(b) is based on two cross-coupled two-input NOR gates.
D-type bistable
'JH 4JNQMF 34 CJTUBCMFT B CBTFEPO/"/%HBUFTBOE C CBTFE PO/03HBUFT
to become (or remain at) logic 0. In either case, the bistable will remain in its SET or RESET state until an input is applied in such a sense as to change the state. Note also that the Q and Q outputs always have opposite logical states. Thus, when the Q output is at logic 1 the Q output will be at logic 0, and WJDF versa.
Unfortunately, the simple cross-coupled logic gate bistable has a number of serious shortcomings (consider what would happen if a logic 1 was simultaneously present on both the SET and RESET inputs!) and practical forms of bistable make use of much improved purpose-designed logic circuits, such as D-type and J-K bistables. The D-type bistable has two inputs: D (standing variously for data or de lay) and CLOCK (CLK). The data input (logic 0 or logic 1) is clocked into the bistable such that the output state only changes when the clock changes state. Operation is thus said to be synchronous. Additional subsidiary inputs (which are invariably active low) are provided, which can be used to directly set or reset the bistable. These are usually called PRESET (PR) and CLEAR (CLR). D-type bistables are used both as latches (a simple form of memory) and as binary dividers. The simple circuit arrangement in Fig.6.15, together with the timing diagram shown in Fig. 6.16 illustrate the operation of D-type bistables.
'JH%UZQFCJTUBCMF
'JH5JNJOHEJBHSBNGPSUIF%UZQFCJTUBCMF
48
'JH+,CJTUBCMF
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Teach-In 2011 J-K bistables J-K bistables (see Fig.6.17) have two clocked inputs (J and K), two direct inputs (PRESET and CLEAR), a CLOCK (CK) input, and outputs (Q and Q). As with R-S bistables, the two outputs are complementary (ie, when one is 0 the other is 1, and vice versa). Similarly, the PRESET and CLEAR inputs are invariably both active low (ie, a 0 on the PRESET input will set the Q output to 1, Fig.6.19. Circuit for a four-stage binary counter using J-K bistables whereas a 0 on the CLEAR input will set the Q output to 0). Fig.6.18 summarises the input and corresponding output states of a J-K bistable
(ie, Q is reset
(ie, Q is reset
Fig.6.20. Timing diagram for the four-stage binary counter of Fig.6.19
(ie, Q is reset
(ie, Q is reset
for various input states. J-K bistables are the most soPHISTICATEDANDÛEXIBLEOFTHEBISTABLETYPES ANDTHEY CANBECONÚGUREDINVARIOUSWAYS INCLUDINGBINARY dividers, shift registers, and latches. The circuit arrangement of a four-stage binary counter, based on J-K bistables, is shown in Fig.6.19. The timing diagram for this circuit is shown in Fig.6.20. Each stage successively divides the clock input signal by a factor of two. Note that a logic 1 input is transferred to the respective Q-output on the falling edge of the clock pulse, and all J and K inputs must be taken to logic 1 to enable binary counting.
Practical logic circuits
whatever state it was before, while
Fig.6.18. J-K bistable operation
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
You should now have a basic grasp of the theory of logic circuits, but what we haven’t done yet is give you an idea of what these devices look like and how they appear in practical logic circuits. So, let’s end this month’s Learn BYSHOWINGYOUTWOEXAMPLESOFMODERNLOGICCIRCUITS 4HEÚRSTOFTHESEISADUAL$ TYPEBISTABLE WHILETHE SECONDISA&QUADTWO INPUT.!.$GATE 49
Teach-In 2011 The 4013 dual D-type bistable is supplied in various packages, including the dual-in-line (DIL) package shown in Fig.6.21. This device uses standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, and its pin connections are shown in Fig.6.22. Note that pin 14 and pin 7 supply power to both of the D-type bistables. The 74F08 quad two-input NAND gate is also available in several different packages. We have shown the small integrated circuit (SOIC) package in Fig.6.23. This package is ideal for surface mounting rather than through-hole mounting used with the DIL package that we met before. The 74F08 contains four independent NAND gates and uses ‘fast’ transistortransistor logic (TTL). The pin connection diagram for the chip is shown in Fig.6.24. As with the 4013, the supply connections (pin 14 and pin 7) are common to all four of the internal logic gates.
Please note! Some logic devices, particularly CMOS types, are static-sensitive and special precautions are needed when handling and transporting them.
Circuit Wizard A Standard or Professional version of Circuit Wizard can be purchased from the editorial office of EPE – see CD-ROMs for Electronics page and the UK shop on our website (www. epemag.com). Further information can be found on the New Wave Concepts website; www.new-wave-concepts.com. The developer also offers an evaluation copy of the software that will operate for 30 days, although it does have some limitations applied, such as only being able to simulate the included sample circuits and no ability to save your creations.
Fig.6.21. A 4013 dual D-type bistable in a plastic dual-in-line (DIL) package. This chip was manufactured in 1992
Fig.6.23. A 74F08 quad two-input NAND gate in a small surface-mount package (SOIC). This chip was manufactured in 2001
Fig.6.24. Pin connections for the 74F08 quad two-input NAND gate IC
Check – How do you think you are doing? 6.1. Identify each of the logic symbols shown in Fig.6.25 6.2. Draw the truth table for the logic gate arrangement shown in Fig. 6.26. Fig.6.26. See Question 2
6.3. Show how three two-input AND gates can be connected together to form a four-input AND gate.
6.4. State the Boolean logic expression for the output of each of the gate arrangements shown in Fig.6.27 – opposite. 6.5. Devise a logic gate arrangement that provides an output described by the truth table shown in Fig.6.28.
Fig.6.25. See Question 1
50
Fig.6.22. Pin connections for the 4013 dual D-type bistable IC
Fig.6.28. See Question 5
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Teach-In 2011
Build – The Circuit Wizard way OU’VE learnt the theory about logic gates, so now let’s try it out using Circuit Wizard. Anyone who’s experimented or prototyped with discrete logic circuits before will be all too familiar with hopelessly prodding a logic probe into an incomprehensible ‘rat’s nest’ of breadboard and link wires. Fortunately, nowadays we can do all this and more using software packages before we commit any copper to PCB. Circuit Wizard really does have a few aces up its sleeve when it comes to working with logic. First, you can work directly with the logic gates themselves and let it worry about the chip packages (see later on), as well as a number of dedicated inputs/outputs and simulation schemes that bring the circuits to life and visually convey what’s
Y
Fig.6.27. See Question 4
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
really going on in the circuit. In this instalment of Build we’ll be trying out some logic gates to see how they operate, as well as experimenting with some real life applications.
Gate numbers
When you add a gate to the drawing area you should notice that it will automatically number your gate in accordance with the corresponding IC required. As each IC contains a number of gates, an Opening the gates ALPHABETICALSUFÚXWILLBEADDEDTO Circuit Wizard includes a the chip reference (eg, IC1a) to show large range of logic devices in which has been allocated. Once the both CMOS and TTL versions total number of gates has exceeded (note that the extent of the that of the IC, Circuit Wizard will logic devices may depend on the automatically include a new chip, and so on. You are able to change which gate has been allocated within the chip. This can be useful when it comes to generating the MOSTEFÚCIENT0#"LAYOUT However, the automatic allocation works great for most users. Circuit WizFig.6.29. Changing logic families for a logic gate ard will also add power version of Circuit Wizard that connections ‘in the background’, you are running). so that these are accounted for in The first thing that you may net lists when moving on to PCB notice is that in the Gallery generation. (right-hand panel) you can acThe best way to understand the cess standard and Schmitt varieoperation of the basic gates is to ties of gates in the ‘Logic Gates’ drop one on to the drawing area, folder, as well as each family of add inputs and outputs and see chip separately in the ‘Integrated how the output changes in reCircuits’ folder. We can only assponse to changes in the inputs. sume that this is for the purpose Circuit Wizard has some really of providing quick access to the useful input toggles and output more common gates. indicators which can be found at By default, 4000 series ICs the top of the ‘Logic Gates’ folder will be used. However, you are (see Fig.6.30). able to select the family of gate Switching to the ‘Logic View’ by selecting the appropriate (click on the vertical tab on the left model in the properties context of the drawing area) is a particularly box; see Fig. 6.29 (double-click useful way to analyse any logic the component to access this). This default behaviour can also be altered in the software’s setting if required. Fig.6.30. A simple arrangement to test an AND gate
51
Teach-In 2011
Build – The Circuit Wizard way circuit. This view uses both colour coding as well as 1s and 0s at the inputs/outputs of each pin to show the logic state. This can really help you see what’s going on around the circuit. One important thing to note about the logic indicators and the ‘Logic Level’ view is that the logic high state is indicated by red, and the logic low by green. This might seem a little counterintuitive to some people – the author included!
Give it a try Experiment with some of the basic gates; AND, OR, NAND, XOR and NOT. Draw up a truth table for each gate and check that this matches what you’ve seen in Learn. Alternatively, we’ve developed an interactive logic gate worksheet (see Fig.6.31). This can be downloaded from the Teach-In 2011 website; www.tooley.co.uk/teach-in – follow the link to Circuit Wizard downloads. Print out the worksheet and complete the truth tables by simulating them on screen. Logic circuits usually contain a number of different gates and can get very complicated. DeSIGNERSCANSPENDALONGTIMETRYINGTOÚGUREOUT the simplest arrangement of gates to perform the logical function that’s required. However, with the widespread use and availability of microprocessors, complex combinational logic circuits are becoming a thing of the past. Have a go at entering and testing the logic circuit shown in Fig.6.32, and produce a truth table. Could the function of this circuit have been reproduced with fewer gates? If you think about actually producing the circuit above you would need three logic ICs and two of the ICs would only have one gate used in THEM/BVIOUSLY THISISAPRETTYINEFÚCIENTWAY to do things. Fortunately, logic designers came up with a great idea; what if we could use just a single gate and wire them in such a way to act like the other gates? In this way, you would only need to buy one type of IC. It turns out that the NAND gate is the ideal candidate for this as you can produce all of the other gates using them – we call them ‘NAND equivalents’. Fig.6.33 shows the NAND equivalent for an AND gate. Enter the circuit in to Circuit Wizard and verify that the combination acts just like an AND gate. In this case, the first gate is a straight forward NAND and the second 52
Fig.6.31. A view of our logic gate worksheet, which can be downloaded from: www.tooley.co.uk/teach-in
Fig.6.32. A combinational logic circuit
Fig.6.33. An AND gate made using NAND gates (in other words, a ‘NAND equivalent’ of an AND gate
gate acts as a NOT gate. Hence, the result is ‘NOT NAND’ or AND. 7HYNOTSEEIFYOUCANÚGUREOUTTHE.!.$EQUIVALENTS for the other gates. You can also download our NAND Gate Equivalent simulator (Fig.6.34) from the Teach-In website, which includes a number of other equivalents for you to explore. Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Teach-In 2011
Fig.6.33. Download our NAND gate
equivalent simulator from: www. tooley.co.uk/teach-in
Fig.6.35. Intruder alarm circuit. When one of the ‘links’ is broken, the alarm sounds
Intruder alarm Now we’ll look at a real-life application of a simple logic circuit. Fig.6.35 shows an intruder alarm circuit. When any one of the links (simulated by push-to-break buttons) is broken, the alarm is activated. Enter the circuit and try it out for yourself! Advanced readers might like to see if they can adapt the circuit to latch the alarm on once a link has been broken.
Fig.6.36. Four-bit ripple counter using J-K bistables
Ripple counter Another area of logic design is sometimes described as sequential logic. Often this involves counting and/or timing. Fig.6.36 shows what is commonly known as a ripple counter or cascade counter. It produces a binary count using a series of J-K bistables or ‘flip-flops’. Enter the circuit and look closely at its operation. The ‘Logic View’ is excellent for this kind of circuit, and you should be able to see how the logic high ‘ripples’ along the flip-flops in order to generate a four-bit binary counting sequence. Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
The world’s fastest microprocessor resulted from an investment of $1.5 billion, and operates at a speed of 5.2GHz (courtesy of International Business Machines Corp.)
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Teach-In 2011
Build – The Circuit Wizard way Decade counter A binary count could be really useful for lots of applications. Apart from possibly a few computer nerds, not all that many people can easily read a binary number! Therefore, if we need to display a number to a consumer we need to convert this to a displayable number. This can be easily achieved with a 74LS47 sevensegment display decoder, a driver chip and a seven-segment LED display (common anode). The chip decodes the fourbit lines of the binary count and outputs a number on the seven-segment LED display by turning on/off the appropriate
Fig.6.37. A decade (ie, 0-9) counter circuit using J-K bistables and a sevensegment display
lines. Amend your ripple counter circuit as shown in Fig.6.37. The NAND gate is used to reset the
flip-flops when the count reaches 9, the highest single-digit number that can be displayed.
Investigate A block schematic diagram of a logic system used in a large aircraft is shown in Fig.6.38.
The system is designed to alert THE ÛIGHT CREW BY GENERATING VISible and audible warnings that one
Fig.6.38. A block schematic of a logic system used in an aircraft
54
or more of the aircraft’s undercarriage doors remain open when the AIRCRAFTISINNORMALÛIGHT 4HE ÚVE DOOR SWITCHES PROVIDE logic 1 signals when the respective door is open and logic 0 when closed. All of the warning indicators are ‘active low’ and require a logic 0 to produce a visible or audible output. Study the circuit carefully and then see if you can answer each of the following questions: 1. What logic level appears at points X, Y and Z with all of the doors closed? 2. What logic level appears at points X, Y and Z with the left wing door open and all other doors closed? 3. What logic level appears at points X, Y and Z with the nose door open and all other doors closed? 4. When any one or more of the doors opens, the audible warning
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Teach-In 2011
Answers to Check questions 6.1. (a) Three input OR gate B 4WOINPUT.!.$GATE C )NVERTEROR./4GATE D $ TYPEBISTABLEOR$ TYPE ÛIP ÛOP 2. See Fig. 6.40
Fig.6.41. Answer to Question 3
3. See Fig. 6.41 A !p" B ! " C !p"
Fig.6.40. Answer to Question 2 Fig.6.42. Answer to Question 5
5. See Fig. 6.42 should sound and remain operatING UNTIL THE ÛIGHT CREW CANCELS the alarm by means of the RESET BUTTON7HATDEVICESHOULDBEUSED FOR)#ANDSHOWHOWSHOULDITBE CONNECTED
Amaze 4HETIMETHATITTAKESFORADIGITAL signal to travel from the input(s) of a LOGICGATETOPRODUCEACHANGEINTHE output is usually extremely small ANDMEASUREDINMICROSECONDSS NANOSECONDS NS OR PICOSECONDS (ps). This time (often referred to as propagation delay) has a major imPACTINDETERMININGTHEMAXIMUM SPEED AT WHICH A PARTICULAR LOGIC CIRCUITWILLOPERATE 3TANDARD LOGIC GATES WILL HAPPILY OPERATE AT SWITCHING SPEEDS OF UP
Fig.6.39. IBM’s new zEnterprise System mainframe (courtesy of International
SUCHASTHELATESTGENERATIONOFMICROPROCESSORS WHICHNEEDCLOCKRATES THATAREVERYMUCHHIGHERTHANTHIS 4HEHIGHESTCLOCKSPEEDMICROPROCESSORCURRENTLYSOLDCOMMERCIALLYIS FOUND INSIDE )"-mS Z%NTERPRISE MAINFRAMECOMPUTER4HISDEVICEWAS INTRODUCEDIN*ULY ANDITSCORES RUNCONTINUOUSLYATASPEEDOF'(Z OR TIMESASECOND .OW THAT MAY SOUND FAST BUT FUTURETECHNOLOGYBASEDONSUPERCONDUCTINGLOGICPROMISESTOOFFER SPEEDS THAT ARE PREDICTED TO BE around 100 times faster than this. 3O ASTHEOLDSAYINGGOES lYOUAINmT SEENNOTHINGYETØm
Business Machines Corporation)
Next month!
TOABOUTÚFTYMILLIONOPERATIONSPER SECOND BUTEVENTHISISINSUFÚCIENT FOR USE IN HIGH SPEED APPLICATIONS
)N NEXT MONTHmS Teach-In WE SHALLBELOOKINGATTIMERSANDPULSE generators.
CIRCUIT WIZARD Circuit Wizard is a revolutionary new software system that combines circuit design, PCB design, simulation and CAD/CAM manufacture in one complete package. Two versions are available, Standard and Professional. By integrating the entire design process, Circuit Wizard provides you with all the tools necessary to produce an electronics project from start to finish – even including on-screen testing of the PCB prior to construction!
Circuit diagram design with component library (500 components * Standard, 1500 components Professional) Virtual instruments (4 Standard, 7 Professional) * On-screen animation *
Layout * PCB Interactive PCB layout simulation * Automatic PCB routing * Gerber export *
This is the software used in our Teach-In 2011 series. Standard £61.25 inc. VAT Professional £91.90 inc. VAT See Direct Book Service – pages 75-77 in this issue
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
55
Circuit Surgery Regular Clinic
by Ian Bell
Collector-base feedback/bias
E PE
forum contributor Lost posted the following questions about collectorbase feedback for a single-transistor amplifier. Consider a capacitor-coupled NPN transistor amplifier with collector-base bias. Assume that the reactance of the capacitor is negligible at signal frequencies. What type of feedback is involved – seriesvoltage, series-current, shunt-voltage or shunt-current? What is the feedback equation for this stage? The circuit for a feedback amplifier of this type is shown in Fig.1. In the discussion which ensued, concerning apparent mismatch between textbook feedback theory on input/output resistance and the simulation of the circuit, Lost added: Neither does it obey the standard negative feedback equation. That’s why I asked if anyone knows what equation this ‘simple’ circuit follows. It later became apparent that he may have been analysing a circuit without Rin (the circuit in Fig.2), which Alec_t correctly pointed out does not have any feedback.
Rf
C1
Vout
Subtracting the feedback signal from the circuit input gives the amplifier input:
Sai = Sinp–- ESo The amplifier (and circuit) output is the amplifier input multiplied by the amplifier gain:
Fig.1. An NPN transistor amplifier with collector-base bias/feedback
So = A(Sinp–- ESo) So = ASinp–- EASo
Feedback basics This month, we will look at the basics of feedback theory, which will allow us to answer Lost’s first question about the type of feedback involved. Next month, we will look at analysing feedback in circuits in more detail. An abstract diagram of an amplifier with feedback is shown in Fig.3 – the signals, labelled S, could be either voltages or currents. The amplifier on its own has a gain of A = So/Sai, known as the open-loop gain. The whole circuit (amplifier with feedback) has a gain of ACL = So/Sin, known as the closed-loop gain. The feedback network produces a feedback signal, Sf , which is a fixed proportion, β, of the output signal. β is known as the feedback factor. As we go round the whole feedback loop signal, Sai is first multiplied by the amplifier gain, then by the feedback factor and then –1 by the mixer, so the feedback is –βASai. The value –βA is known as the loop gain. Referring to Fig.2, we can calculate the closed loop gain in terms of the open loop
Vout
F
F
E H
Rc
TR1
TR1
R in
Sf = ESo
Rc
Vin
Vcc
Rb
gain and feedback factor. The feedback signal is the output multiplied by the feedback fraction:
Vcc
E H
Vin
Fig.2. An NPN transistor amplifier with collector-base bias, but no input resistor
Collecting all the output terms together gives us:
So + EASo = ASinp (1 + EA)So = ASinp and rearranging to find the closed-loop gain, we get:
ACL
So Sinp
A 1 EA
Sensitivity This is the fundamental equation for feedback circuits. A very important result, which follows from this equation is that negative feedback tends to make the gain R2
R1
²
in
out
Fig.4 (above right). Op amp inverting amplifier
AMPLIFIER
CIRCUIT INPUT SIGNAL
Sin
+
AMPLIFIER INPUT SIGNAL Sai
A
AMPLIFIER So OUTPUT SIGNAL
–
So CIRCUIT OUTPUT SIGNAL
A CL
Vin
MIXING NETWORK
FEEDBACK SIGNAL
Vout
² FEEDBACK NETWORK Sf
β
So
Fig.5 (right). Op amp non-inverting amplifier
R2 R1
R2
R1 A CL = 1+R2/R1
Fig.3. Structure of a feedback amplifier circuit
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
57
Feedback network Like the amplifier, the feedback network can have either voltage or current input or output. This leads to four feedback configurations, corresponding to the four amplifier types in Table 1. The input type of the feedback network corresponds to the amplifier output, and the output type of the feedback network corresponds to the amplifier input. The four types of feedback configuration are shown in Fig.6 to Fig.9. For voltage output amplifiers, the feedback network is connected across the amplifier output, as shown in Fig.6 and Fig.8. This voltage-sampled feedback is also referred to as parallel feedback, because the feedback network is in parallel with the load. For current output amplifiers, the feedback network samples the output in series with the load – the output current flows through both the load and feedback network, as shown in Fig.7 and Fig.9. Current-sampled feedback is also referred to as series feedback. The mixer may subtract either a voltage or a current from the source signal before is it applied to the amplifier input. Voltage subtraction is easily provided by series connection of the voltage output of the feedback network with the source voltage. This is shown in Fig.6 and Fig.7. In both circuits, Kirchhoff’s voltage law shows us that vai = vin – vf . This type of mixing is referred to as voltage-input or series-input feedback. In Fig.8 and Fig.9, the feedback network subtracts a current from the source output before it reaches the amplifier. The feedback network shunts the source, diverting some of its current. Kirchhoff’s current law shows us that iai = iin – if for both of these circuits. This type of mixing is referred to as currentinput or shunt-input feedback. The overall names of the four feedback configurations combine the sampling and mixing descriptions, with the mixing type (usually) named first. For example, Fig.6, which combines series-mixing with voltagesampling is called series-voltage feedback. There are variations on these names, for example Fig.6 may be called voltage-voltage, series-shunt, series-parallel, and possibly other names. The name variations can be confusing.
Unilateral assumption There is an important assumption underlying the idealised feedback circuits depicted in Fig.3 and Fig.6 to Fig.9. This assumption is that both the amplifier and feedback block are unilateral, that is they only transmit, or transfer, signals in one direction. This is indicated by the arrows in the amplifier and feedback blocks.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
We assume that changes of the output voltage or current of the amplifier have no influence on the voltage or current at its input (eg, by changing the input impedance). Similarly, we assume that the voltage and current at the output of the feedback block have no influence on the block’s input. These assumptions are generally good for op amp-based circuits, but less so for transistor circuits. Like the effect of relatively low transistor gain mentioned earlier, this makes idealised analysis of transistor circuits less accurate than with op amps. The op amp non-inverting amplifier (Fig.5) is perhaps one of the more straightforward real circuits to interpret in terms of feedback configurations. The two resistors R1 and R2 form a potential divider, delivering a proportion of the output voltage to the inverting terminal of the amplifier. This effectively subtracts the potential divider voltage from the input voltage – so we have a case of series-voltage feedback. Using the well known potential divider equation we get:
R2 v R1 R2 o
vf
So β = R2/(R1+R2). Using ACL = 1/β gives us:
ACL
R1 R2 R2
1
R1 R2
the well-known gain expression for this circuit.
Summary To answer one of Lost’s questions, the circuit in Fig.1 is an example of shuntvoltage feedback. The transistor acts as a transresistance amplifier, with Rin converting the input voltage depicted in Fig.1 into the input current (ignoring the capacitor). The feedback resistor causes a feedback current, dependent on the output voltage, to flow in opposition to the input current, as indicated on Fig.8. The inverting op amp amplifier (Fig.4) is a very similar circuit configuration, which can also be interpreted as using shunt-voltage feedback. The circuit in Fig.2 does not have any feedback, assuming Vin is an ideal voltage source. If the voltage source has internal resistance, the circuit reverts to that in Fig.1, with the source resistance performing the role of Rin. With an ideal source, the feedback resistor has no influence over the input to the transistor. The transistor’s base-emitter voltage and hence base current is set wholly by the voltage source. In this circuit, Rb acts only to load the output. This month, we have partly answered Lost’s question about the nature of feedback in the circuit in Fig.1. We have mainly considered the fundamental theory of the feedback amplifier, which has allowed us to answer the question about which type of feedback is involved. Next month, we will look at the actual transistor circuit in more detail.
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Both bipolar transistors and FETs are inherently current output devices (collector or drain current); however, we can readily obtain a voltage output by passing this current through a load resistor (as shown in Fig.1 and Fig.2). Thus, a bipolar transistor with an output resistor can be regarded as either a voltage or transresistance amplifier, and a FET with an output resistor is a voltage amplifier. Operation amplifiers (op amps) are inherently voltage amplifiers. Operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) are also available as ICs (eg, LM13700).
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PIC n’ Mix
Mike Hibbett
Our periodic column for PIC programming enlightenment
T
PIC Internet Computer – Part 5
he soldering iron stays firmly in the cupboard this month as we take a look at the ‘build environment’ for our main application, based around the free Microchip compiler. We are going to zip through the process of installing all the software tools, so you might find that some of these steps don’t apply to you. You should note, however, that some of the source code that we use from Microchip is pretty recent, and may not be compatible with older installations of MPLAB or the PIC24 C compiler. The simplest approach is to install the missing software when we get to it, and only go back to the beginning if you have problems. For a clean installation, we will be downloading three products from Microchip: The MPLAB integrated development environment; C30, the PIC24 C compiler; and the ‘Application Libraries’ – a collection of software libraries for the PIC processors, which contains the two libraries we are interested in – the SD Media card file system library, and the TCP/IP stack software. MPLAB and C30 do need to be fairly recent – if you haven’t installed an update in the last six months, you probably need to follow all these instructions. In total, we will be downloading approximately 250MB of data – so if you do not have broadband, you need to find a friend who does. And give them a blank CD! The three downloads are the following: MPLAB v8.63 (100MB) http://bit.ly/i9gQhZ C30 Compiler (47MB) http://bit.ly/f55dlK (choose the Standard-Eval version) Application libraries (107MB) http://bit.ly/ fKeyxk Note that to download the C Compiler you will need to register an account, and login. This process does not demand an excessive amount of information, and is quite quick.
Finally, unzip the application libraries zip file, and run the executable. Accept all the defaults (this installs all the application libraries; you can remove unused features at a later date, if you wish.) Now let’s test the software installation by creating a very simple project. Double-click on the MPLAB IDE icon on your desktop, and select Project then Project Wizard. Click Next and select our processor from the drop down list – PIC24HJ128GP202. Then click Next. A dialog similar to Fig.1 should appear. For every item in the ‘Toolsuite Contents’ list, a co-responding entry should be visible in the ‘Location’ field. This is set up automatically if you followed the previous instalation instructions. However, it is possible that the links are not made – in this case, manually locate each Toolsuite item by clicking on the Browse button and selecting the required file. These are all found in the ‘bin’ sub-directory, as shown in the Location field. Once all tools have been located, click Next. You are now prompted to enter the name for the project. Click the Browse button and navigate to your desktop, then enter a name like ‘quick-test’. Click Save followed by Next. You now have the chance to add some existing source files to the project; just click Next here, then Finish. You are now presented with an empty project within MPLAB. From the main menu click File, then Add New File to Project. Navigate to your desktop, then type in the filename main.c and click Save. In the new editor window that pops up in the following code: #include
#include int main ( void )
Installation
MPLAB – extract the zip file to a temporary sub-directory on the desktop, then run setup. exe. Click through the usual licence agreements to start the installation process. Click ‘No’ to installing the HI-TECH C installer, and on completion allow the PC to reboot. Next, install the C30 compiler. When prompted for the installation type, select ‘Evaluation Compiler’ (unless you are one of the lucky ones who could afford to buy the standard licence. If that’s the case, enter your serial number here.)
60
Pic n Mix.indd 60
Fig.1 MPLAB tool configuration
{
}
puts(“Hello!”); return 0;
That’s a very simple program that will just prove our compiler is working – we will not be downloading it to any hardware, and so we can skip the task of setting up the processor configuration bits (the normal painful part of any new PIC project.)
The heap
We do need to specify one extra parameter, a small amount of RAM memory for the ‘heap’ – the pool of memory where C programs can dynamically request and return storage from. The heap is used by the malloc and free functions, which are used extensively by the TCP/IP stack software. More on that later. For now, we need only specify a small amount of storage for our test application. From the main menu selection Project followed by Build Options.. and then Project. Click on the ‘MPLAB LINK30’ tab and in the ‘Heap size:’ field enter 128. Click OK to save the settings. So let’s find out if everything is working – from the main menu select Project followed by Build All. If all goes well you should be greeted with ‘BUILD SUCCEEDED’ in the output dialogue. Scrolling up through the Output dialogue box will reveal details about the memory utilisation, both Flash and RAM, for our very simple program. Don’t be concerned by the rather excessive memory use (15% of RAM, 1% of Flash) as these are default memory regions set aside for your data, as and when you use it. The C programming language is actually very efficient, but can generate a small overhead that is only obvious with tiny programs like these. For larger projects, the overhead actually helps out. So there is no need to curse the C30 compiler for turning what looks like a thirty byte program into over two thousand! Finally, close the project by selecting Project from the main menu, followed by Close, and then exit MPLAB. On the desktop you should see that seven files have been created; five with our project name, main.c and main.o. When you want to open a project in MPLAB you should double-click on the file with the .mcp extension. This file contains all the information about your
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
23/02/2011 08:13:29
project files and configuration. MPLAB will then know how to organise all the files. You can delete these seven files now, and we can move onto the more complicated issue – the Application Library.
Application library The two major software components we require for this project come for free from Microchip – but at a price of another kind. The TCP/IP stack and memory card file system are wrapped up in an ‘Application Library’ suite, with many other useful (but to us irrelevant) source code libraries totaling 6000 files and 395MB of file space. It’s a hugely complex collection of software, and takes a lot of patience to pick through to find the relevant parts. The files are located by default in ‘C:\ Microchip Solutions v2010-10-19’. We will start with the simple software library, the SD Media card file system. The core library files are in the ‘Microchip\MDD File System’ sub-directory, with an example project located in ‘MDD File System-SD Card’. Opening up the PIC24 MPLAB project file MDDFSSD-PIC24.mcp reveals a reassuringly simple collection of files, as shown in Fig. 2. Only two source code files (and several header files) are referenced, so integrating this into our own project is not going to be too difficult. Fig.2 also highlights a standard feature of the application libraries – one header file (FSConfig.h in this case) is used to specify what features of the library are required in our specific application, and the file hardwareProfile.h that is used to specify what pins on our processor are used to connect the physical device to our chip. Neither of these files are well documented; you have to work out what they do by careful
Fig. 2 Media card source files Realising that choosing the features inspection of the source, and a certain amount required was going to be complicated, of ‘suck it and see’. Fortunately, we’ve done Microchip have created an application this for you, so we can concentrate on the to create that file for you. Called interesting part – actually using the functions TCPIPConfig.exe, it can be found in the provided. ‘Utilities’ sub-directory in the Stack source TCP/IP stack area. Over the course of the next four weeks, A good and relatively simple example we will set up the initial file system and application is provided to demonstrate the stack configuration files, and prepare the features of the TCP/IP stack, and this can final hardware design – adding in the be found in the directory ‘TCPIP MDD MicroSD Media card interface and the Demo App’. This time, however, the source Ethernet interface using the ENC28J60 IC files used extend to over forty rather than – both circuits have been used before in just two! To be fair, the stack code is very PIC n’ Mix. From there, we can start to glue extensive, and even provides the ability to the parts together quickly and demonstrate send emails. We will not have to edit any of how the Microchip tools, once configured, these files, however. We just need to choose provide a huge amount of easy-to-use what features we wish to use through the functionality. header file TCPIPConfig.h.
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Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
61
By Robert Penfold
A simple analogue optical interface
T
HE previous Interface article covered a simple method of providing digital outputs using the computer’s monitor and an optical detector circuit. Using this method, it is possible to provide an accurate 8-bit analogue output using eight optical detector circuits to drive a conventional digital-to-analogue converter. This would be quite involved though, and would be doing things the hard way if a high degree of precision was required. For something like a computer controlled power supply, it would be necessary to have a high degree of precision, so that the output voltages could be set with good accuracy. On the other hand, accuracy is often of little importance for an application such as a motor speed or light controller. In simple applications of this type it is merely necessary to have available a good range of speeds, light levels, or whatever.
Light work of it On the face of it, there should be no problem in providing a simple analogue output using a single optical detector circuit. Under software control the light output from an area of the screen can be varied instead of simply being switched between black and white, and a suitable detector circuit can provide an output potential that is roughly proportional to the screen brightness. However, there are too many potential flaws in the system for the output voltage to be anything more than roughly proportional to the control values used. The optical detector circuit could be designed to have a high degree of linearity, but this is pointless unless a similarly high degree of linearity could be obtained between
the control values and the screen brightness. In practice, it is likely that there would be a lack of precision in this respect. Practical tests suggest that there are significant differences in the results obtained from various monitors, and that the way a particular monitor is set up can also produce massive variations. The ambient light level does not usually have a large effect on the results obtained, since it is not too difficult to shield the photo detector. However, its influence would probably be sufficient to prevent a very high degree of accuracy from being obtained. Anyway, no attempt at precision results will be made in the design featured here, and high accuracy using this method is probably not a practical proposition. This interface is only intended to act as the basis of a system where relatively ‘rough and ready’ results will suffice. As was the case with the circuits featured in the previous Interface article, this one is only designed for use with LCD monitors, and it will not work properly with a CRT type. This is due to the way a CRT monitor produces the picture.
Practical circuit The circuit diagram for a simple analogue optical interface is shown in Fig.1. TR1 is a BPV11 phototransistor, and it provides the upper arm of a potential divider circuit across the supply rails. The other arm of the potential divider is provided by resistor R1, and the voltage developed across this resistor is proportional to the leakage current through TR1. Unlike some phototransistors, the BPV11 does have a base leadout wire, but in this
Fig.1. The circuit diagram for the optical analogue interface. 8-bit resolution is easily achieved, but not 8-bit accuracy
62
Fig.2. Leadout details for the BPV11 phototransistor. This device has a base lead, but in the circuits feature here it is left unconnected
circuit it is left unconnected. It is the collector-to-emitter leakage current that is of importance here. In total darkness, TR1 has the very low levels of leakage current associated with normal silicon transistors, and the potential developed across R1 is then negligible. As the light level is increased, the leakage current through TR1 rises, and the voltage developed across R1 also rises. The range of voltages produced across R1 in the present application will depend on factors such as the brightness and contrast of the monitor, the precise characteristics of the particular example used for TR1, and how well TR1 is shield from ambient light. However, it will typically vary from a few millivolts to just under two volts. IC1 is a simple operational amplifier (op amp) non-inverting circuit that acts as a buffer stage, but it also provides a certain amount of voltage amplification. Preset VR1 (wired as a variable resistor) enables the voltage gain of the amplifier to be varied from two to about 12 times. This enables the maximum output voltage to be varied from around 3V to a maximum of about 12.5V. The maximum output potential is imposed by the 15V supply voltage and not by the voltage gain of IC1.
Components The CA3140E operational amplifier specified for IC1 is a type that will operate in single supply DC circuits. Most other op amps will not work properly in this circuit unless a conventional dual balanced supply is used. The CA3140E is a MOS device and the standard anti-static handling precautions should therefore be taken when dealing with this device. It is important that the device used for TR1 is the standard version of the BPV11. In common with most phototransistors, the standard version has peak sensitivity in the near infra-red part of the spectrum, at about 850nm. It has good sensitivity in the red and green parts of the visible light spectrum, but the sensitivity falls off significantly towards the blue/violet end of the spectrum. This is again common to most phototransistors and diodes. In order to obtain the greatest contrast, and therefore the greatest voltage range across R1, it is advisable to control the circuit from an on-screen object that varies from black to white, rather than using one particular colour. The circuit is unlikely to work well enough using a blue or violet control object. There is another version of the BPV11, which is the BPV11F. This seems to be essentially the same component as the standard BPV11, but its sensitivity peaks at 950nm, and it has a built-in infrared filter.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
As it is completely insensitive to the visible light part of the spectrum it is not suitable for use in this circuit. The standard BPV11 has a clear plastic case, as used for many 5mm diameter light emitting diodes. The BPV11F has the same type of case, but it is tinted a dark grey colour by the built-in infrared filtering, making it easily distinguished from the standard device. The device’s three leadout wires are easily identified as they are of different lengths (see Fig.2). Once the leadout wires have been trimmed it is still possible to identify them, because the case has the usual LEDstyle ‘flat’ next to the emitter lead. The three leads emerge from the device in a line, but the collector lead is preformed so that the leads are effectively in a triangular configuration. The built-in lens of the BPV11 gives it a ±15 degree angle of view, which helps to avoid problems with the ambient light level affecting results. However, as far as reasonably possible it should still be shielded from ambient light. It should be placed as close as possible to the relevant part of the monitor’s screen, but it should not be allowed to come into contact with the screen. This is to prevent possible damage to the screen.
Signal processing In a practical application, it will usually be necessary to have suitable signal conditioning circuits to process the output of the basic circuit of Fig.1, so that the required output voltage range and maximum load current can be accommodated. One obvious shortcoming is that the minimum output voltage of the basic analogue interface is not zero. The minimum voltage obtained depends on the closed-loop voltage gain of IC1 and the lowest light level that can be achieved; it is typically around 20mV to 30mV. This will not necessarily be a problem, and in a DC motor control or lighting application for example, an ‘off’ state would effectively be reached well before the onscreen control object was reduced to its black setting. If necessary there are various ways of overcoming the slight offset, such as using a level shifting circuit. Another option is to use an output buffer amplifier such as the one shown in the circuit diagram of Fig.3, which produces a voltage drop that will more than counter the offset voltage. This circuit can handle output currents of up to about 2A, but output transistor TR3 must be fitted to a large heatsink to prevent it from overheating.
Fig.3. Adding a buffer stage to the original circuit removes the offset voltage at the output and enables the unit to handle output currents of up to about 2A. Output transistor TR3 MUST be fitted with a large heatsink A third option is to use a simple optical interface to provide on/off switching at the output of the circuit. This can be handled by the circuit of Fig.4, which is essentially the same as the relay interface featured in the previous Interface article. A circuit of this type can also be used for other switching purposes, such as providing direction control for a DC motor.
Software A very simple control program should suffice, and the example program provided in Listing 1 was written using Visual BASIC Express 2010/2011. This has two buttons that control the background colour of a label component (Label1). The label contains no text, and it is only its colour that is of importance here. It can be set as white by operating Button1, or black by operating Button2. These buttons are notionally used to provide forward/reverse switching in this example, but could be used for on/off switching, or any other simple switching task using the circuit of Fig.4. The variable output is handled by a horizontal scrollbar and another label component (Label2). The scrollbar must have its maximum and minimum values set to 255 and 0 respectively, as it is only integer values in this range that can be used to control the colour of the label component. The colour is controlled by using the value from the scrollbar as the RGB values for the label’s background colour. A Dim statement is used to define a new colour, which in this example is called OutputVal. This colour is then used as the
Fig.4. A simple optical interface that can be used to control a relay. The latter can be used to provide on/off switching and direction control.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
BackColor value for Label2. Since the red, green, and blue values are all the same, the label is black with the scrollbar set at minimum, and white when it is set to its maximum value. In between these two extremes there are 254 shades of grey. This effectively gives 8-bit resolution, but as explained previously, this method will not give anything approaching normal 8-bit accuracy. The screen dump of Fig.5 shows the program in action. Listing 1 Public Class Form1 Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System. Object, ByVal e As System. EventArgs) Handles Button2. Click Label1. BackColor = Color. Black End Sub Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System. Object, ByVal e As System. EventArgs) Handles Button1. Click Label1. BackColor = Color. White End Sub Private Sub HScrollBar1_Scroll(ByVal sender As System. Object, ByVal e As System. Windows. Forms. ScrollEventArgs) Handles HScrollBar1. Scroll Dim OutputVal As Color = C o l o r. Fr o m A r g b ( H S c r o l l B a r 1 . Value,HScrollBar1. Value, HScrollBar1. Value) Label2. BackColor = OutputVal End Sub End Class
Fig.5. The example program in operation. The scrollbar provides 256 output levels and the two buttons control a relay
63
Readers’ Circuits
Our regular round-up of readers’ own circuits WIN A PICO PC-BASED OSCILLOSCOPE WORTH £799 0+]$QDORJXH%DQGZLGWK'XDO&KDQQHO6WRUDJH2VFLOORVFRSH 6SHFWUXP$QDO\VHU )UHTXHQF\0HWHU 0XOWLPHWHU 86%,QWHUIDFH ,I \RX KDYH D QRYHO FLUFXLW LGHD ZKLFK ZRXOG EH RI XVH WR RWKHU UHDGHUV WKHQ D 3LFR 7HFKQRORJ\3&EDVHGRVFLOORVFRSHFRXOGEH\RXUV $IWHUHYHU\SXEOLVKHG,8FLUFXLWV3LFR7HFKQRORJ\ZLOOEHDZDUGLQJD3LFR6FRSH GLJLWDO VWRUDJH RVFLOORVFRSH IRU WKH EHVW ,8 VXEPLVVLRQ ,Q DGGLWLRQ D 3LFR6FRSH +DQGKHOG¶6FRSHZRUWK
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We pay between £10 and £50 for all mate rial published, depending on length and technical merit. We’re looking for novel applications and circuit designs, not simply mechanical, electrical or software ideas. Ideas must be the reader’s own work and must not have been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. The circuits shown have NOT been proven by us. Ingenuity Unlimited is open to ALL abilities, but items for consideratio n in this column should be typed or word-processed, with a brief circui t description (between 100 and 500 words maximum) and include a full circuit diagram showing all component values. Please draw all circuit schem atics as clearly as possible. Send your circuit ideas to: Ingenuity Unlimited, Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU. Email: editorial@ epemag.wimborne.co.uk. Your ideas could earn you some cash and a prize !
Universal Remote Control Receiver – In control
M
OST readers will have old IR (infrared) remote controls lying around the house, usually from those old TVs or DVD players that were dismantled or recycled years ago. Now you can find a use for those ‘remotes’ by using them to control the Universal Remote Control Receiver. The circuit diagram shown in Fig.1 uses a PNA4602M IR detector (I used RS Components part number 199-630, but other suppliers may also stock this item) to receive an IR signal from the remote control. It’s a neat device, which contains an IR receiver, amplifier and demodulator together in a single 3-pin package, and it’s normally used in circuits where you want to decode an IR remote control signal.
high for a short period of time, set by resistor R2 and capacitor C2. The 555 timer (IC2) basically acts as a debounce circuit, and its output is fed into the clock pin (CLK) of the 4013B dual Dtype flip-flop IC3. Only one half of the chip is used in this application, and it is configured as a bi-stable flip-flop. An initial clock signal into IC3 causes its output pin 2 to go high, and it remains high until another IR signal is received. To switch the output off you simply press any button on the old remote control again and the above operation is repeated, but this time IC3’s output is switched off and remains off until another signal is received. The output basically acts as a toggle switch.
The output pin in this circuit drives an LED to show the output status. However, the output could be easily interfaced to drive a transistor and relay to switch a higher load. The circuit could then be used to remotely switch equipment in your garage, shed or office. Don’t forget that you need to use the circuit in an area where IR remote controls are not normally present, because the circuit will operate with virtually any IR remote control. Capacitor C1, positioned across the output of the IR receiver (IC1), stops spurious triggering from artificial lighting, which can occur if this isn’t in place. Nick Dossis, Middlewich, Cheshire
How it works The way the circuit (Fig.1) works is as follows. When there is no IR coded signal present, the output pin of IC1 remains high. This high signal is fed to the trigger input of the 555 timer (IC2), which being configured as a monostable timer, prevents the timer operating. Whenever you briefly press any key on the old remote control its IR signal is received by IC1 and output pin 1 produces a train of fast moving high and low pulses, which mimic the IR signal code sent by the remote control. We are not interested in this code, but as soon as the signal switches low it triggers the monostable timer IC2 and its output pin 3 goes
64
Fig.1. Circuit diagram for the Universal Remote Control Receiver
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
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The C for PICmicro microcontrollers CD-ROM is designed for students and professionals who need to learn how to program embedded microcontrollers in C. The CD-ROM contains a course as well as all the software tools needed to create Hex code for a wide range of PICmicro devices – including a full C compiler for a wide range of PICmicro devices. Although the course focuses on the use of the PICmicro microcontrollers, this CD-ROM will provide a good grounding in C programming for any microcontroller. Complete course in C as well as C programming for PICmicro microcontrollers Highly interactive course Virtual C PICmicro Includes a C compiler improves understanding Includes for a wide range of PICmicro devices full Integrated Development Environment Includes MPLAB software Compatible with most Includes a compiler for PICmicro programmers all the PICmicro devices.
Flowcode is a very high level language programming system based on flowcharts. Flowcode allows you to design and simulate complex systems in a matter of minutes. A powerful language that uses macros to facilitate the control of devices like 7-segment displays, motor controllers and LCDs. The use of macros allows you to control these devices without getting bogged down in understanding the programming. When used in conjunction with the Version 3 development board this provides a seamless solution that allows you to program chips in minutes. Requires no programming experience Allows complex PICmicro applications to be designed quickly Uses international standard flow chart symbols Full on-screen simulation allows debugging and speeds up the development process. Facilitates learning via a full suite of demonstration tutorials Produces ASM code for a range of 18, 28 and 40-pin devices 16-bit arithmetic strings and string manipulation Pulse width modulation I2C. New features of Version 4 include panel creator, in circuit debug, virtual networks, C code customisation, floating point and new components. The Hobbyist/Student version is limited to 4K of code (8K on 18F devices)
Assembly for PICmicro microcontrollers V3.0 (previously known as PICtutor) by John Becker contains a complete course in programming the PIC16F84 PICmicro microcontroller from Arizona Microchip. It starts with fundamental concepts and extends up to complex programs including watchdog timers, interrupts and sleep modes. The CD makes use of the latest simulation techniques which provide a superb tool for learning: the Virtual PICmicro microcontroller, this is a simulation tool that allows users to write and execute MPASM assembler code for the PIC16F84 microcontroller on-screen. Using this you can actually see what happens inside the PICmicro MCU as each instruction is executed, which enhances understanding. Comprehensive instruction through 45 tutorial sections Includes Vlab, a Virtual PICmicro microcontroller: a fully functioning simulator Tests, exercises and projects covering a wide range of PICmicro MCU applications Includes MPLAB assembler Visual representation of a PICmicro showing architecture and functions Expert system for code entry helps first time users Shows data flow and fetch execute cycle and has challenges (washing machine, lift, crossroads etc.) Imports MPASM files.
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Minimum system requirements for these items: Pentium PC running, 2000, ME, XP; CD-ROM drive; 64MB RAM; 10MB hard disk space. Flowcode will run on XP or later operating systems
PRICES Prices for each of the CD-ROMs above are: (Order form on next page) (UK and EU customers add VAT to ‘plus VAT’ prices)
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Hobbyist/Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £45.95 Professional (Schools/HE/FE/Industry) . . . . . . . . . . . . £99 Professional 10 user (Network Licence) . . . . . . . . . . . £350 Site Licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £699 Flowcode Professional (Schools/HE/FE/Industry) . . . £149 Flowcode 10 user (Network Licence) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £399 Flowcode Site Licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £799
inc VAT plus VAT plus VAT plus VAT plus VAT plus VAT plus VAT
Everyday Practical Electronics , April 2011
Surfing The Internet
Net Work Alan Winstanley Last month, I mentioned problems that I’d experienced with my wireless network, as wireless devices such as my WiFi Pure Evoke radio and laptop PCs were prone to ‘going blind’ and falling off the network. Over the years, I’ve tried three or four routers from well-know names, including Linksys, Belkin and Netgear: all of them failed in use. Often it was due to the power supply or a port going down, or WiFi compatibility problems. Last time, I’d installed a cheap and cheerful Tenda W300D, which has been flawless as far as wired 10/100Mb ethernet was concerned, but wireless performance became problematic to the point where I’d have to power the stubborn router down overnight before any wireless device would connect properly next day. I suspected problems with the router’s DHCP function, which allocates IP addresses to each device. A DHCP firmware update saw no improvement. Another bottleneck was building up on my system, though: the Tenda router has a typical 4 port 10/100Mbps switch, but my PCs each have gigabit Ethernet, as does my Ethernet-connected Netgear backup drive. As several major backups and data recoveries each took 20 hours or more, this finally prompted me to consider upgrading to something faster. One option would be to add a gigabit switch onto the existing router, but faced with a slightly temperamental Tenda, I opted to find a wireless router with a 4-port gigabit switch instead.
After powering up, a row of green LEDs on the router confirmed that – at last! – gigabit Ethernet had arrived in my worklab. As soon as I opened my web browser, Billion’s Easy Sign-On screen automatically launched – neat. It was then a simple case of entering the basic protocol details, username and password and the router immediately connected to my ADSL. (You will need those details from your host, so check that you have them beforehand.)
Getting started
The next port of call was the maker’s website to fetch a firmware update for UK users, as recommended by forum users, and then the wireless network setup was tackled. Billion’s software caters for beginners and advanced users and the novice would have no problems navigating around the ‘Basic settings’ screen. The main rule is to leave at their default settings anything that you’re unsure about. The Billion router has plenty for expert users to configure (helped by an excellent, well-written manual) so I’ll confine my comments to explaining some basic aspects and jargon for setting up typical small networks. Quite often, default settings are fine, but a tweak may be needed sometimes. Configurations could be saved as a file, so you can experiment with different setups. Early considerations include DHCP (dynamic host configuration A cool billion protocol); most users will probably want the router to allocate unique IP addresses to anything connecting to the network, and DHCP will Some places to take some practical soundings include Amazon reprobably be enabled by default in the router. The router’s NAT (Netviews, which highlight some off-putting feedback about some wellwork address translation) feature means in effect that individual netknown brands, or the Whirlpool network forum in Australia at http:// work users can each access the Internet through the system’s single IP tinyurl.com/levhap. The dedicated site www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk address, so NAT should be enabled. is a well-regarded supplier of routers and network equipment, which Next come the wireless settings; deep in the router, I chose also hosts a lively user forum. This is where the Billion BiPAC 7800N 802.11b + g + n mode. Network interface cards (NICs) installed in ADSL2+ Dual WAN router caught my attention. At £119 the Billion older wireless-connected computers may not be compatible, and may is costlier than an average ‘home’ router, but it’s the only device in need ‘throttling back’ to 802.11b (11Mbps) only. Or consider using Billion’s range classified as suitable for office and SoHo (small office/ 802.11n USB dongles, which are quite cheap. On one PC tucked home office) use. Its feature list fitted the bill perfectly and a quick trip away in a corner, I extended the wireless NIC’s aerial onto the desk to www.billion.uk.com/product/wireless/7800n.htm confirmed that to help improve reception a little. Base-mounting WiFi aerials with it had all the features I needed, and more. At the time of writing, the cables can be had on eBay for just a few pounds. Billion is also stocked by Maplin (www.maplin.co.uk). Next choose an ESSID (extended service set identifier) – a humanOne issue I’ve raised in the past is ventilation: small home-type routreadable name for your network. Then ers seem to get worryingly hot with constant use, and I even took to choose a wireless channel, eg, Chanusing a cheap fold-out USB-powered laptop cooling fan (from eBay, nel 7 or so, which is hopefully less 99p) underneath the Tenda, which crowded than default Channel 1; a tool cooled it considerably. One pluslike Netstumbler shows the channels point is that the Billion 7800N that any bothersome neighbours are is probably the best-ventilated occupying. Each connected WiFi derouter that I’ve come across; vice then needs a key inputting that it has grilles all around, on top you create during setup. In some and underneath, underlining its routers, timeslots can be set up always-on SoHo credentials. to turn the wireless service on I was soon unpacking the or off automatically, and burBillion router ready for instalied in its setup the Billion has a lation and found that it had daily/ hourly timetable ‘spreadseveral tricks up its sleeve – sheet’ for this. it’s a dual WAN device for use That’s all for this month – either as an ADSL router or a broadremember you can discuss with band router with cable or fibre, so it’s fellow readers in our forum at instantly cable-ready for the future. www.chatzones.co.uk or write If using ADSL, then the cable ethernet to us at editorial@epemag. EWAN port doubles as a handy bonus fifth The Billion 7800N is a high performance router suitable co.uk (10/100) port on the gigabit switch. for small-office/ home office users
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Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
EPE PIC RESOURCES V2
CIRCUIT WIZARD
Version 2 includes the EPE PIC Tutorial V2 series of Supplements (EPE April, May, June 2003)
Circuit Wizard is a revolutionary new software system that combines circuit design, PCB design, simulation and CAD/ CAM manufacture in one complete package. Two versions are available, Standard or Professional.
The CD-ROM contains the following Tu t o r i a l - r e l a t e d software and texts:
By integrating the entire design process, Circuit Wizard provides you with all the tools necessary to produce an electronics project from start to finish – even including on-screen testing of the PCB prior to construction!
Circuit diagram design with component library (500 components * Standard, 1500 components Professional) instruments (4 Standard, 7 Professional) * Virtual animation * On-screen Interactive circuit diagram simulation * True analogue/digital simulation * Simulation of component destruction * PCB Layout * Interactive PCB layout simulation * Automatic PCB routing * Gerber export * Multi-level zoom (25% to 1000%) * Multiple undo and redo * Copy and paste to other software * Multiple document support *
This is the software used in our Teach-In 2011 series. Standard £61.25 inc. VAT Professional £91.90 inc. VAT
Minimum system requirements for these CD-ROMs: Pentium PC, CD-ROM drive, 32MB RAM, 10MB hard disk space. Windows 2000/ME/XP, mouse, sound card, web browser.
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EPE PIC Tutorial V2 complete series of articles plus demonstration software, John Becker, April, May, June ’03
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PIC Toolkit Mk3 (TK3 hardware construction details), John Becker, Oct ’01
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PIC Toolkit TK3 for Windows (software details), John Becker, Nov ’01
Plus 18 useful texts to help you get the most out of your PIC programming. Price £14.75 inc. VAT
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS PHOTOS A high quality selection of over 200 jpg images ION of electronic RS E components. V W This selection of NE high resolution photos can be used to enhance projects and presentations or to help with training and educational material. They are royalty free for use in commercial or personal printed projects, and can also be used royalty free in books, catalogues, magazine articles as well as worldwide web pages (subject to restrictions – see licence for full details). Now contains Irfan View image software for Windows, with quick-start notes included. Price £19.95 inc. VAT
Please send me: CD-ROM
ORDER FORM
Assembly for PICmicro V3
‘C’ for 16 Series PICmicro V4
Flowcode for PICmicro
Flowcode for AVR
Flowcode for ARM
Flowcode for dsPIC & PIC24
Version required:
Hobbyist/Student
Professional
Professional 10 user
Professional + Flowkit
Site licence
Note: The software on each version is the same, only the licence for use varies.
ORDERING ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POSTAGE Student/Single User/Standard/Hobbyist Version price includes postage to most countries in the world EU residents outside the UK add £5 for airmail postage per order
PICmicro Development Board V3 (hardware)
Circuit Wizard – Standard
Circuit Wizard – Professional
EPE PIC Resources V2
Electronic Components Photos Full name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post code: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tel. No: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Everyday Practical Electronics , April 2011
Professional, Multiple User and Site License Versions – overseas readers add £5 to the basic price of each order for airmail postage (do not add VAT unless you live in an EU (European Union) country, then add VAT at 20% or provide your official VAT registration number).
Send your order to: Direct Book Service Wimborne Publishing Ltd 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU To order by phone ring
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www.picotech.com/scope2100 73
READOUT
Email: [email protected] Matt Pulzer addresses some of the general points readers have raised. 9 RTHki£7 ER WalOys Have you anything interesting to say? ANALYneSnt er, ndly R LC An S LA be AT po d, will WIN AN R Passive Com Design Lt th. Drop us a line! Electronic Letter Of The Mon ce An Atlas LC an d by Peak the
All letters quoted here have previously been replied to directly
induct or of donate measures F to to the auth awarded LCR automatically e from 1p with nc s ta la ci At pa e Th 1: to 2M: to 10H, ca from 1mH d resistance from.peakelec.co.uk w an 10,000PF curacy of 1%. ww a basic ac
LETTER OF THE MONTH PIC data to PC spreadsheet Dear Editor In a recent Readout letter, Bob White asked about how to get data captured in a PIC into an Excel spreadsheet using a serial or USB link. I have recently done this, and can provide what I think is a solution that works well and requires very little software to be loaded on the PC. A full listing of the assembler code that I used on my PIC is attached. (Please email the office for the file – editor) The concept is to format the logged data as a comma-separated file in the PIC, and send this to the PC using a UART connection into a terminal emulation program, such as HyperTerminal. The data is copied out of the terminal emulation buffer on the PC screen and pasted into Notepad, where it is saved as a text file. (Note, HyperTerminal and Notepad are standard programs that come with all versions of Windows, and will be found in the ‘All programs/Accessories’ folder). You then open Excel, and from within Excel open the saved text file. Excel will launch the text import wizard, where you can tell it that you have a delimited file and that the delimiter is a comma and the data
Sourcing sodium hydroxide Dear Editor I was interested to read Robert Scott’s article on UV light boxes in the Aug ’10 issue. I have also built a home-made box, but using a commercial time switch, and with an alarm when time is up. With regard to obtaining sodium hydroxide, I find it is available (under the name ‘caustic soda’) from my local branch of Boots. It is in the household section because it is used for unblocking drains. It might also be worth trying hardware stores. I use it at 8% strength to remove the resist after etching, and it works fine. I have not tried it as a developer, but according to Bill Mooney’s book on surface-mount devices, it should be used at 1.6% for commercial pre-coated PCBs, and 1.2% for homecoated boards. The percentages are weight/ volume – that is 16 or 12 grams per litre. Sebastian Linfoot, Oxford
74
format is ‘General’ (the default). It will then import the data into Excel and you can process it or produce graphs as you wish. So, how do you produce a comma-separated file on a PIC and send it using the UART? Well, a comma-separated file has the data represented as numeric text characters, with a comma between each data item and a new line character at the end of every set of data. For example, if you wanted to send a set of data representing the desired position of a servo, and the actual position of the servo every 50 milliseconds, then you might produce a stream of data such as 000,000 nl 005,006 nl 010,012 nl 50, 60 nl, 100,120 nl. This represents five sets of data, each with two values and each terminated by the new line (nl) character. When you collect the data, it will be in the form of 8-bit bytes or 16-bit words in binary. So before you send it you need to convert these into a string of three or five numeric text characters. Bob doesn’t mention what PIC he is using, but I am using a dsPIC, which is a 16bit processor. Therefore, I am logging and sending 16-bit data values as five numeric characters to the PC, but the code could be easily reduced to send only three characters if you are using 8-bit data values. My netbook PC has no serial port, so I am using the FTDI TTL-232R-PCD TTL to Good tips there Sebastian – thanks. And as always, readers must treat chemicals, including caustic soda, with great respect – always follow the instructions.
Waste not want not Dear Editor Following on from previous suggestions for worthwhile recycling, here are two items that are often discarded, but which usually have some useful components. Microwave ovens have a plethora of small items and a very heavy transformer. However, the most useful part is the magnetron assembly. Remove all the cooling fin metal work and the magnetron has a pair of annular magnets fitted to it to supply the magnetic field when in use. These are very powerful and when removed have a multitude of uses. In winter, four of them hold a waterproof cover over my car. Disposable cameras with flash should never be handed over complete when all the film
USB serial converter board to get the UART on my PIC to talk to the PC. Note that there are two versions of this PCB – one for 3.3V signals and one for 5V. If you choose this method, select the one that matches your PIC’s power supply voltage. Go to www. ftdichip.com, where you will see what variants of the PCB are available and also be able to download the driver for your operating system, which is the only software that will need to be loaded onto your PC. Code has been included for setting up the UART, logging the data into an area of RAM on the PIC and for sending it to the PC. A couple of final points. The routine adds one extra data item to the start of each set, which is the number of the dataset being sent. And don’t forget to set the speed in HyperTerminal to 19200 and parity bits to match that being sent by the PIC when you set up the connection. As a long time reader of EPE magazine, I’d just like to say: ‘keep up the good work’. David Hannaford, Warwickshire Many thanks David, that is a most useful answer to Bob’s question, and doubtless a handy technique for many data-collecting PIC project builders. has been exposed. Remove the film cassette and pass this to the photo shop. The plastic case can be opened fairly easily to remove an AA battery. During its use to power the flash very little of its charge will have been used and there is plenty of life left in it. There is a PCB which, when powered by a single AA battery, provides a 300V power source. This is used to charge an electrolytic capacitor, which supplies the energy for the flash tube. At the side of the board, the contacts needed to flash the tube are easily located. The power source has many other uses when a low-power, highvoltage source is needed. Guy Selby-Lowndes, Billingshurst I like the magnet use Guy. Readers must ensure that mains-powered machinery is truly dead before poking around inside! Microwave ovens, like CRT televisions, can store high voltages in capacitors long after they have been switched off. If in doubt, seek help and advice from a qualified expert.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
DIRECT BOOK SERVICE
Electronics Teach-In 3 FREE CD-RO
M The three sections of this book cover a very wide range of subjects that will interest everyone involved in electronics, from hobbyists and students to professionals. The first 80-odd pages of Teach-In 3 are dedicated to Circuit Surgery, the regular EPE clinic dealing with readers’ queries on various circuit design and application problems – everything from voltage regulation to using SPICE circuit simulation software. The second section – Practically Speaking – covers the practical aspects of electronics construction. Again, a whole range of subjects, from soldering to avoiding problems with static electricity and indentifying components, are covered. Finally, our collection of Ingenuity Unlimited circuits provides over 40 different circuit designs submitted by the readers of EPE. The free cover-mounted CD-ROM is the complete Electronics Teach-In 1 book, which provides a broad-based introduction to electronics in PDF form, plus interactive quizzes to test your knowledge, TINA circuit simulation software (a limited version – plus a specially written TINA Tutorial), together with simulations of the circuits in the Teach-In 1 series, plus Flowcode (a limited version) a high level programming system for PIC microcontrollers based on flowcharts. The Teach-In 1 series covers everything from Electric Current through to Microprocessors and Microcontrollers and each part includes demonstration circuits to build on breadboards or to simulate on your PC. There is also a MW/ LW Radio project in the series. The contents of the book and Free CD-ROM have been reprinted from past issues of EPE. 160 pages+CD-ROM
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THE AMATEUR SCIENTIST 3·0 CD-ROM CD-ROM The complete collection of The Amateur Scientist articles from Scientific American magazine. Over 1,000 classic science projects from a renowned source of winning projects. All projects are rated for cost, difficulty and possible hazards. Plus over 1,000 pages of helpful science techniques that never appeared in Scientific American. Exciting science projects in: Astronomy; Earth Science; Biology; Physics; Chemistry; Weather . . . and much more! The most complete resource ever assembled for hobbyists, and professionals looking for novel solutions to research problems. Suitable for Mac, Windows, Linux or UNIX. 32MB RAM minimum, Netscape 4.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. Over 1,000 projects
CD-ROM
Order code ASICD-ROM
The books listed have been selected by Everyday Practical Electronics editorial staff as being of special interest to everyone involved in electronics and computing. They are supplied by mail order direct to your door. Full ordering details are given on the last book page.
FOR A FURTHER SELECTION OF BOOKS AND CD-ROMS SEE THE UK SHOP ON OUR WEBSITE – www.epemag.com All prices include UK postage
1
ELECTRONIC PROJECT BUILDING FOR BEGINNERS R. A. Penfold This book is for complete beginners to electronic project building. It provides a complete introduction to the practical side of this fascinating hobby, including the following topics: Component identification, and buying the right parts; resistor colour codes, capacitor value markings, etc; advice on buying the right tools for the job; soldering; making easy work of the hard wiring; construction methods, including stripboard, custom printed circuit boards, plain matrix boards, surface mount boards and wire-wrapping; finishing off, and adding panel labels; getting “problem’’ projects to work, including simple methods of fault-finding. In fact everything you need to know in order to get started in this absorbing and creative hobby.
135 pages
Order code BP392
COMPUTING FOR THE OLDER GENERATION Jim Gatenby Among the many practical and useful ideas for using your PC that are covered in this book are: Choosing, setting up and understanding your computer and its main components. Writing letters, leaflets, invitations, etc., and other word processing jobs. Keeping track of your finances using a spreadsheet. Recording details of holidays and other ideas using a database. Using the Internet to find useful information, and email to keep in touch with family and friends. Making ‘back-up’ copies of your work and checking for viruses. How to use Windows XP to help people with impaired vision, hearing or mobility.
308 pages
Order code BP601
£8.99
RADIO
£5.99
TEST EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTION R. A. Penfold This book describes in detail how to construct some simple and inexpensive but extremely useful, pieces of test equipment. Stripboard layouts are provided for all designs, together with wiring diagrams where appropriate, plus notes on construction and use. The following designs are included:AF Generator, Capacitance Meter, Test Bench Amplifier, AF Frequency Meter, Audio Mullivoltmeter, Analogue Probe, High Resistance Voltmeter, CMOS Probe, Transistor Tester, TTL Probe. The designs are suitable for both newcomers and more experienced hobbyists.
104 pages
Order code BP248
£4.49
£19.95
COMPUTING PROJECT CONSTRUCTION IC 555 PROJECTS E. A. Parr Every so often a device appears that is so useful that one wonders how life went on before without it. The 555 timer is such a device. Included in this book are over 70 circuit diagrams and descriptions covering basic and general circuits, motor car and model railway circuits, alarms and noise makers as well as a section on 556, 558 and 559 timers. (Note. No construction details are given.) A reference book of invaluable use to all those who have any interest in electronics, be they professional engineers or designers, students or hobbyists.
ELECTRONICS TEACH-IN 2 CD-ROM
CD-ROM
HOW TO USE OSCILLOSCOPES AND OTHER TEST EQUIPMENT R. A. Penfold This book explains the basic function of an oscilloscope, gives a detailed explanation of all the standard controls, and provides advice on buying. A separate chapter deals with using an oscilloscope for fault finding on linear and logic circuits, plenty of example waveforms help to illustrate the control functions and the effects of various fault conditions. The function and use of various other pieces of test equipment are also covered, including signal generators, logic probes, logic pulsers and crystal calibrators.
USING PIC MICROCONTROLLERS A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION This Teach-In series of articles was originally published in EPE in 2008 and, following demand from readers, has now been collected together in the Electronics Teach-In 2 CD-ROM. The series is aimed at those using PIC microcontrollers for the first time. Each part of the series includes breadboard layouts to aid understanding and a simple programmer project is provided. Also included are 29 PIC N’ Mix articles, also republished from EPE. These provide a host of practical programming and interfacing information, mainly for those that have already got to grips with using PIC microcontrollers. An extra four part beginners guide to using the C programing language for PIC microcontrollers is also included. The CD-ROM also contains all of the software for the Teach-In 2 series and PIC N’ Mix articles, plus a range of items from Microchip – the manufacturers of the PIC microcontrollers. The material has been compiled by Wimborne Publishing Ltd. with the assistance of Microchip Technology Inc. The Microchip items are: MPLAB Integrated Development Environment V8.20; Microchip Advance Parts Selector V2.32; Treelink; Motor Control Solutions; 16-bit Embedded Solutions; 16-bit Tool Solutions; Human Interface Solutions; 8-bit PIC Microcontrollers; PIC24 Micrcontrollers; PIC32 Microcontroller Family with USB On-The-Go; dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers.
104 pages
CD-ROM
167 pages
Order code BP44
Order code BP267
£5.49
£5.49
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Order code ETI2 CD-ROM
£9.50
AN INTRODUCTION TO RADIO WAVE PROPOGATION J.G. Lee Radio wave propogation is one of the more important discoveries made in the early 20th century. Although technology lagged behind early experimenters pursued this newly discovered phenomenon eagerly for, in understanding the physics of propagation, they were discovering more about our Universe and its workings. Radio wave propagation has its origins in the world of solar physics. The Sun’s radiation provides the mechanism for the formation of the ionosphere. How the ionosphere is formed, and how it provides long-distance communication, is carefully explained. Non-ionospheric propagation, including ‘moonbounce’ or satellite communications, is covered as well. This book has been written with the average electronic hobbyist in mind. Technical language and mathematics have been kept to a minimum in order to present a broad, yet clear, picture of the subject. The radio amateur, as well as the short-wave listener, will find explanations of the propogation phenomena which both experience in their pursuit of communications enjoyment.
116 pages
Order code BP293
£4.45
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THEORY AND REFERENCE BEBOP TO THE BOOLEAN BOOGIE Second Edition Clive (call me Max) Maxfield This book gives the “big picture’’ of digital electronics. This in-depth, highly readable, guide shows you how electronic devices work and how they’re made. You’ll discover how transistors operate, how printed circuit boards are fabricated, and what the innards of memory ICs look like. You’ll also gain a working knowledge of Boolean Algebra and Karnaugh Maps, and understand what Reed-Muller logic is and how it’s used. And there’s much, MUCH more. The author’s tongue-in-cheek humour makes it a delight to read, but this is a REAL technical book, extremely detailed and accurate. Contents: Fundamental concepts; Analog versus digital; Conductors and insulators; Voltage, current, resistance, capacitance and inductance; Semiconductors; Primitive logic functions; Binary arithmetic; Boolean algebra; Karnaugh maps; State diagrams, tables and machines; Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog; Integrated circuits (ICs); Memory ICs; Programmable ICs; Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs); Circuit boards (PWBs and DWBs); Hybrids; Multichip modules (MCMs); Alternative and future technologies.
470 pages
Order code BEB1
£35.99
BEBOP BYTES BACK (and the Beboputer Computer CD-ROM Simulator) CD-ROM Clive (Max) Maxfield and Alvin Brown This follow-on to Bebop to the Boolean Boogie is a multimedia extravaganza of information about how computers work. It picks up where “Bebop I’’ left off, guiding you through the fascinating world of computer design . . . and you’ll have a few chuckles, if not belly laughs, along the way. In addition to over 200 megabytes of megacool multimedia, the CD-ROM contains a virtual microcomputer, simulating the motherboard and standard computer peripherals in an extremely realistic manner. In addition to a wealth of technical information, myriad nuggets of trivia, and hundreds of carefully drawn illustrations, the CD-ROM contains a set of lab experiments for the virtual microcomputer that let you recreate the experiences of early computer pioneers. If you’re the slightest bit interested in the inner workings of computers, then don’t dare to miss this!
Over 800 pages in Adobe Acrobat format CD-ROM
Order code BEB2 CD-ROM
£21.95
In Chapter 2 various methods of component checking are described, including tests for transistors, thyristors, resistors, capacitors and diodes. Circuit testing is covered in Chapter 3, with subjects such as voltage, current and continuity checks being discussed. In the main little or no previous knowledge or experience is assumed. Using these simple component and circuit testing techniques the reader should be able to confidently tackle servicing of most electronic projects.
102 pages
Order code BP239
£5.49
DIGITAL GATES AND FLIP-FLOPS Ian R. SInclair This book, intended for enthusiasts, students and technicians, seeks to establish a firm foundation in digital electronics by treating the topics of gates and flip-flops thoroughly and from the beginning. No background other than a basic knowledge of electronics is assumed, and the more theoretical topics are explained from the beginning, as also are many working practices. The book concludes with an explanation of microprocessor techniques as applied to digital logic.
200 pages INTERFACING PIC MICROCONTROLLERS Martin Bates An essential guide to PIC interfacing techniques, using circuit simulation to aid learning. Explore in detail microcontroller interfacing techniques using the popular PIC 16F877. Work through step-by-step examples interactively using circuit simulation software, supplied as assembly source code. Interfacing PIC Microcontrollers provides a thorough introduction to interfacing techniques for students, hobbyists and engineers looking to take their knowledge of PIC application development to the next level. Each chapter ends with suggestions for further applications, based on the examples given, and numerous line drawings illustrate application of the hardware. Step-by-step examples in assembly language are used to illustrate a comprehensive set of interfaces, and these can be run interactively on circuit simulation software, used to aid understanding without the need to build real hardware. A companion website includes all examples in the text which cam be downloaded together with a free version of Proteus’s ISIS Lite.
298 pages
Order code NE48
£30.99
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR MULTIMETER R. A. Penfold This book is primarily aimed at beginners and those of limited experience of electronics. Chapter 1 covers the basics of analogue and digital multimeters, discussing the relative merits and the limitations of the two types.
Order code PC106
£9.95
OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER USER’S HANDBOOK R. A. Penfold The first part of this book covers standard operational amplifer based “building blocks’’ (integrator, precision rectifier, function generator, amplifiers, etc), and considers the ways in which modern devices can be used to give superior performance in each one. The second part describes a number of practical circuits that exploit modern operational amplifiers, such as high slew-rate, ultra low noise, and low input offset devices. The projects include: Low noise tape preamplifier, low noise RIAA preamplifier, audio power amplifiers, d.c. power controllers, opto-isolator audio link, audio millivolt meter, temperature monitor, low distortion audio signalgenerator, simple video fader, and many more.
120 pages Order code BP335 £5.45 PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS HANDBOOK – Fifth Edition. Ian Sinclair Provides a practical and comprehensive collection of circuits, rules of thumb and design data for professional engineers, students and enthusaists, and therefore enough background to allow the understanding and development of a range of basic circuits. Contents: Passive components, Active discrete components, Circuits, Linear I.C.s, Energy conversion components, Digital I.C.s, Microprocessors and microprocessor systems, Transferring digital data, Digitalanalogue conversions, Computer aids in electronics, Hardware components and practical work, Micro-controllers and PLCs, Digital broadcasting, Electronic security. 440 pages
Order code NE21
£32.50
MUSIC, AUDIO AND VIDEO QUICK GUIDE TO DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING Ian Waugh Covers: s 7HAT COMPUTER SYSTEM YOU NEED s 3OUND AND DIGITAL AUDIO ESSENTIALS s 7HAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SOUND CARD s 7HAT EFFECTS TO USE s 4HE ART OF MIXING s (OW TO BURN YOUR MUSIC TO #$ s (OW TO POST YOUR SONGS ON THE 7EB All modern music recordings use digital audio technology. Now everyone with a compouter can produce CD-quality recordings and this book shows you how. Written in a clear and straightforward style, it explains what digital audio recording is, how to use it, the equipment you need, what sort of software is available and how to achieve professional results. Computer-based recording is the future of music and this book shows how you can join the revolution now.
208 pages
Order code PC121
76
Order code PC119
109 pages
£7.95
QUICK GUIDE TO MP3 AND DIGITAL MUSIC Ian Waugh MP3 files, the latest digital music format, have taken the music industry by storm. What are they? Where do you get them? How do you use them? Why have they thrown record companies into a panic? Will they make music easier to buy? And cheaper? Is this the future of music? All these questions and more are answered in this concise and practical book which explains everything you need to know about MP3s in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. It explains: How to play MP3s on your computer; How to use MP3s with handheld MP3 players; Where to find MP3s on the Web; How MP3s work; How to tune into Internet radio stations; How to create your own MP3s; How to record your own CDs from MP3 files; Other digital audio music formats.
60 pages
The projects covered in this book include: Four channel audio mixer, Four channel stereo mixer, Dynamic noise limiter (DNL), Automatic audio fader, Video faders, Video wipers, Video crispener, Mains power supply unit.
£7.45
ELECTRONIC PROJECTS FOR VIDEO ENTHUSIASTS R. A. Penfold This book provides a number of practical designs for video accessories that will help you get the best results from your camcorder and VCR. All the projects use inexpensive components that are readily available, and they are easy to construct. Full construction details are provided, including stripboard layouts and wiring diagrams. Where appropriate, simple setting up procedures are described in detail; no test equipment is needed.
Order code BP356
£5.45
VIDEO PROJECTS FOR THE ELECTRONICS CONSTRUCTOR R. A. Penfold Written by highly respected author R. A. Penfold, this book contains a collection of electronic projects specially designed for video enthusiasts. All the projects can be simply constructed, and most are suitable for the newcomer to project construction, as they are assembled on stripboard. There are faders, wipers and effects units which will add sparkle and originality to your video recordings, an audio mixer and noise reducer to enhance your soundtracks and a basic computer control interface. Also, there’s a useful selection on basic video production techniques to get you started. Complete with explanations of how the circuit works, shopping lists of components, advice on construction, and guidance on setting up and using the projects, this invaluable book will save you a small fortune. Circuits include: video enhancer, improved video enhancer, video fader, horizontal wiper, improved video wiper, negative video unit, fade to grey unit, black and white keyer, vertical wiper, audio mixer, stereo headphone amplifier, dynamic noise reducer, automatic fader, pushbutton fader, computer control interface, 12 volt mains power supply.
124 pages
Order code PC113
£5.45
ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POST & PACKING Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
FAULT FINDING, CIRCUITS AND DESIGN STARTING ELECTRONICS BOOK + Third Edition CD-ROM Keith brindley A punchy practical introduction to self-build electronics. The ideal starting point for home experimenters, technicians and students who want to develop the real hands-on skills of electronics construction. A highly practical introduction for hobbyists, students, and technicians. Keith Brindley introduces readers to the functions of the main component types, their uses, and the basic principles of building and designing electronic circuits. Breadboard layouts make this very much a ready-to-run book for the experimenter, and the use of multimeter, but not oscilloscopes, and readily available, inexpensive components makes the practical work achievable in a home or school setting as well as a fully equiped lab.
288 pages
Order code NE42
£15.99
HOW ELECTRONIC THINGS WORK – AND WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY DON’T Robert Goodman You never again have to be flummoxed, flustered or taken for a ride by a piece of electronics equipment. With this fully illustrated, simple-to-use guide, you will get a grasp on the workings of the electronic world that surrounds you – and even learn to make your own repairs. You don’t need any technical experience. This book gives you: Clear explanations of how things work, written in everyday language. Easy-to-follow, illustrated instructions on using test equipment to diagnose problems. Guidelines to help you decide for or against professional repair. Tips on protecting your expensive equipment from lightning and other electrical damage, lubrication and maintenance suggestions. Covers: colour TVs, VCRs, radios, PCs, CD players, printers, telephones, monitors, camcorders, satellite dishes, and much more!
394 pages
Order code MGH3
£21.99
PIC IN PRACTICE (2nd Edition) David W. Smith A graded course based around the practical use of the PIC microcontroller through project work. Principles are introduced gradually, through hands-on experience, enabling hobbyists and students to develop their understanding at their own pace. The book can be used at a variety of levels. Contents: Introduction to the PIC microcontroller; Programming the 16F84 microcontroller; Introductory projects; Headers, porting code – which micro?; Using inputs; Keypad scanning; Program examples; The 16C54 microcontroller; Alphanumeric displays; Analogue to digital conversion; Radio transmitters and receivers; EEPROM data memory; Interrupts; The 12 series 8-pin microcontroller; The 16F87X microcontroller; The 16F62X microcontroller; Projects; Instruction set, files and registers; Appendices; Index.
308 pages
Order code NE39
£24.99
PRACTICAL ELECTRONIC FAULT FINDING AND TROUBLESHOOTING Robin Pain To be a real fault finder, you must be able to get a feel for what is going on in the circuit you are examining. In this book Robin Pain explains the basic techniques needed to be a fault finder. Simple circuit examples are used to illustrate principles and concepts fundamental to the process of fault finding. This is not a book of theory, it is a book of practical tips, hints and rules of thumb, all of which will equip the reader to tackle any job. You may be an engineer or technician in search of information and guidance, a college student, a hobbyist building a project from a magazine, or simply a keen selftaught amateur who is interested in electronic fault finding but finds books on the subject too mathematical or specialised. The fundamental principles of analogue and digital fault finding are described (although, of course, there is no such thing as a “digital fault” – all faults are by nature analogue). This book is written entirely for a fault finder using only the basic fault-finding equipment: a digital multimeter and an oscilloscope. The treatment is non-mathematical (apart from Ohm’s law) and all jargon is strictly avoided.
274 pages
Order code NE22
electronics and the use of CMOS integrated circuits, but does not lose sight of the fact that digital electronics has numerous “real world’’ applications. The topics covered in this book include: the basic concepts of logic circuits; the functions of gates, inverters and other logic “building blocks’’; CMOS logic i.c. characteristics, and their advantages in practical circuit design; oscillators and monostables (timers); flip/flops, binary dividers and binary counters; decade counters and display drivers.
119 pages
Order code BP333
£5.45
AUDIO AMPS BUILDING VALVE AMPLIFIERS Morgan Jones The practical guide to building, modifying, fault-finding and repairing valve amplifiers. A hands-on approach to valve electronics – classic and modern – with a minimum of theory. Planning, fault-finding, and testing are each illustrated by step-by-step examples. A unique hands-on guide for anyone working with valve (tube in USA) audio equipment – as an electronics experimenter, audiophile or audio engineer. Particular attention has been paid to answering questions commonly asked by newcomers to the world of the vacuum tube, whether audio enthusiasts tackling their first build, or more experienced amplifier designers seeking to learn the ropes of working with valves. The practical side of this book is reinforced by numerous clear illustrations throughout.
368 pages
Order code NE40
£29.00
AUDIO AMPLIFIER PROJECTS R. A. Penfold A wide range of useful audio amplifier projects, each project features a circuit diagram, an explanation of the
£41.99
A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO CMOS DIGITAL ICs R. A. Penfold Getting started with logic circuits can be difficult, since many of the fundamental concepts of digital design tend to seem rather abstract, and remote from obviously useful applications. This book covers the basic theory of digital
BOOK ORDERING DETAILS All prices include UK postage. For postage to Europe (air) and the rest of the world (surface) please add £3 per book. For the rest of the world airmail add £4 per book. CD-ROM prices include VAT and/or postage to anywhere in the world. Send a PO, cheque, international money order (£ sterling only) made payable to Direct Book Service or card details, Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro to: DIRECT BOOK SERVICE, WIMBORNE PUBLISHING LIMITED, 113 LYNWOOD DRIVE, MERLEY, WIMBORNE, DORSET BH21 1UU. Books are normally sent within seven days of receipt of order, but please allow 28 days for delivery – more for overseas orders. Please check price and availability (see latest issue of Everyday Practical Electronics) before ordering from old lists.
For a further selection of books see the next two issues of EPE. Tel 01202 880299 Fax 01202 843233. E-mail: [email protected] Order from our online UK shop at: www.epemag.com
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circuit operation and a stripboard layout diagram. All constructional details are provided along with a shopping list of components, and none of the designs requires the use of any test equipment in order to set up properly. All the projects are designed for straightforward assembly on simple circuit boards. Circuits include: High impedance mic preamp, Low impedance mic preamp, Crystal mic preamp, Guitar and GP preamplifier, Scratch and rumble filter, RIAA preamplifier, Tape preamplifier, Audio limiter, Bass and treble tone controls, Loudness filter, Loudness control, Simple graphic equaliser, Basic audio mixer, Small (300mW) audio power amp, 6 watt audio power amp, 20/32 watt power amp and power supply, Dynamic noise limiter. A must for audio enthusiasts with more sense than money!
Address: ..........................................................................................................................................
116 pages
.........................................................................................................................................................
VALVE AMPLIFIERS Second Edition. Morgan Jones This book allows those with a limited knowledge of the field to understand both the theory and practice of valve audio amplifier design, such that they can analyse and modify circuits, and build or restore an amplifier. Design principles and construction techniques are provided so readers can devise and build from scratch, designs that actually work. The second edition of this popular book builds on its main strength – exploring and illustrating theory with practical applications. Numerous new sections include: output transformer problems; heater regulators; phase splitter analysis; and component technology. In addition to the numerous amplifier and preamplifier circuits, three major new designs are included: a low-noise single-ended LP stage, and a pair of high voltage amplifiers for driving electrostatic transducers directly – one for headphones, one for loudspeakers.
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Please continue on separate sheet of paper if necessary 288 pages
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
Order code NE33
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PCB SERVICE
PROJECT TITLE
Printed circuit boards for most recent EPE constructional projects are available from the PCB Service, see list. These are fabricated in glass fibre, and are fully drilled and roller tinned. Double-sided boards are NOT plated through hole and will require ‘vias’ and some components soldering to both sides. All prices include VAT and postage and packing. Add £1 per board for airmail outside of Europe. Remittances should be sent to The PCB Service, Everyday Practical Electronics, Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU. Tel: 01202 880299; Fax 01202 843233; Email: [email protected]. co.uk. On-line Shop: www.epemag.com. Cheques should be crossed and made payable to Everyday Practical Electronics (Payment in £ sterling only). NOTE: While 95% of our boards are held in stock and are dispatched within seven days of receipt of order, please allow a maximum of 28 days for delivery – overseas readers allow extra if ordered by surface mail. Back numbers or photocopies of articles are available if required – see the Back Issues page for details. WE DO NOT SUPPLY KITS OR COMPONENTS FOR OUR PROJECTS.
Please check price and availability in the latest issue. A large number of older boards are listed on, and can be ordered from, our website. Boards can only be supplied on a payment with order basis.
PROJECT TITLE
ORDER CODE
COST
FEBRUARY ’10 Charge Controller For 12V Lead-Acid Batteries Working Days Alarm Clock – Main (double-sided) – Display (double-sided) Low-cost LPT-To-I2C Interface
741
£7.33
742 set 743 744
£27.50 £6.93
MARCH ’10 High-Accuracy Digital LC Meter – Main – Adaptor – Shorting Bar 2-way Stereo Headphone Adaptor Shift Indicator and Rev Limiter For Cars – Main – Display
745 746 747 748 749 750
set
£8.73
set
£16.49
£11.33
APRIL ’10 USB Power Injector Alternative 12V 10A Power Supply LM3909 Replacement Module
597 751 752
£6.46 £7.88 £6.62
753 754 set 755
£7.33
MAY ’10 Water Tank Level Meter dsPIC/PIC Programmer
– Main Board – Adaptor
£9.42
ORDER CODE
LED Strobe and Tachometer – 2 – Photo-Interrupter – IR Reflect Amp USB Clock with LCD Readout – 1 Balanced MIC Preamp for PCs and MP3 Players
777 778 779 780
pair
COST
£7.15 £7.85 £8.72
DECEMBER ’10 12V Speed Controller or 12V Lamp Dimmer Digital RF Level & Power Meter – Main Board – Head-end Board – RF Attenuator Board
781
£6.99
783 784 set 785
£10.81
JANUARY ’11 Multi-Purpose Car Scrolling Display – Main Board – Display Board USB-Sensing Mains Power Switch 433MHz UHF Remote Switch – Transmitter – Receiver
786 787 788
pair
£12.21 £9.77
789 pair 790
£10.12
791 792
£9.72 £8.59
793 794 795 796
£8.02 £11.34 £10.53 £6.80
797 798 799
£7.53 £8.00 £6.97
FEBRUARY ’11 Time Delay Photoflash Trigger Tempmaster Mk.2
MARCH ’11 GPS Synchronised Clock Digital Audio Millivoltmeter Theremin USB Printer Share Switch
MARCH ’11 Multi-Message Voice Recorder PIR-Triggered Mains Switch Intelligent Remote-Controlled Dimmer
EPE SOFTWARE All software programs for EPE Projects marked with a star, and others previously published can be downloaded free from the Library on our website, accessible via our home page at: www.epemag.com
PCB MASTERS PCB masters for boards published from the March ’06 issue onwards can also be downloaded from our website (www.epemag.com); go to the ‘Library’ section.
JUNE ’10 PIC-Based Musical Tuning Aid Water Tank Level Meter – Base – Switch DSP Musicolour – Main – Display
756 757 758 759 760
£9.06 set
£7.67
set
£16.49
JULY ’10 ColdAlert Hypothermia Alarm Swimming Pool Alarm
761 762
£7.68 £8.37
AUGUST ’10 PIC-Based Flexitimer (double-sided) DSP Musicolour – Remote Control Receiver UV Lightbox – Exposure Controller – Display/Timer Ultra LD 200W Power Amplifier (double-sided)
763 764 765 set 766 767
£12.91 £5.93 £15.52
768 769 770 771
£8.37 £6.81 £7.68 £15.00
770 772
£7.68 £6.63
£9.77
SEPTEMBER ’10 Ultra-LD 200W Power Amplifier – Power Supply Low-Voltage Adjustable Regulator Balanced/Unbalanced Converter Planet Jupiter Receiver (double-sided)
OCTOBER ’10 Bridge Adaptor For Stereo Power Amps CDI Module For Small Motors LED Strobe and Tachometer – 1 – Main Board – Switch Board
775 776
pair
773 774
pair
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EPE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD SERVICE Order Code Project Quantity Price ..............................................
£14.83
Note: You can also order PCBs by phone, Fax or Email or via the Shop on our website on a secure server:
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Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2011
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CANTERBURY WINDINGS UK manufacturer of toroidal transformers (10VA to 3kVA) All transformers made to order. No design fees. No minimum order.
HARDWARE FOR CONSTRUCTORS: Printed Front Panels-Sub Frames Brackets-Fasteners-Clips etc
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NOVELTY ONE TRANSISTOR MW RADIO KIT. No external aerial required all complete with ready wound ferrite rod, case, battery and earphones. Send cheque or postal order for £10 with your address to B.A. Jackson, 32 Seymour Street, Peterlee, SR8 4EN.
Contact Stewart on 01202 880299 [email protected]
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ONLY £7.99 79
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Surplus Store 20,000,000 Items on line NOW ! New items added daily Established for over 25 years, UK company Display Electronics prides itself on offering a massive range of electronic and associated electro-mechanical equipment and parts to the Hobbyist, Educational and Industrial user. Many current and obsolete hard to get parts are available from our vast stocks, which include: We Worl Ship 6,000,000 Semiconductors dwid e 5,000 Power Supplies 25,000 Electric Motors Sur 10,000 Connectors Wanplus ted 100,000 Relays & Contactors 2000 Rack Cabinets & Accessories 4000 Items of Test Equipment 5000 Hard Disk Drives
www.distel.co.uk Display Electronics 29 / 35 Osborne Road Thornton Heath Surrey UK CR7 8PD
Telephone
[44] 020 8653 3333 Fax [44] 020 8653 8888
NEXT MONTH BUILD A 6-DIGIT GPS CLOCK Looking for a digital clock that’s always dead accurate? This one derives its time signals from the global positioning satellite (GPS) system, so it never needs setting or adjusting.
DIGITAL AUDIO OSCILLATOR If audio is your thing, then you could use this compact and inexpensive digital audio oscillator. It can produce sine, square, triangle and sawtooth waveforms in the frequency range from 10Hz to 30kHz and features three output ranges: 20mV, 200mV and 1V.
A PRECISION CURRENT ADAPTOR FOR MULTIMETERS This may come as a surprise, but many digital multimeters are unable to make accurate current measurements in lowvoltage circuits because of their ‘burden voltage’. This precision current adaptor solves that problem and greatly improves the measurement accuracy.
SIMPLE VOLTAGE SWITCH FOR CAR SENSORS This Simple Voltage Switch can be used anywhere you want a relay to switch when a voltage reaches a preset level. It has lots of applications in cars, but can be used in any application where you have 12V DC available. Having switched the relay on, it will then switch if off as the voltage being monitored drops below the preset level.
TEACH-IN 2011 – PART 7 Mike and Richard Tooley continue our indispensable back-to-basic series with a look at timers and pulse generators.
MAY ’11 ISSUE – ON SALE 14 APRIL Content may be subject to change
Rechargeable Batteries With Solder Tags NIMH
NICAD
AA 2000mAh ......................£2.82 C 4Ah ...................................£4.70 D 9Ah ...................................£7.60 PP3 150mAh ..................... £4.95
AA 650mAh ...................... £1.41 C 2.5Ah ...............................£3.60 D 4Ah ...................................£4.95
Instrument case with edge connector and screw terminals Size 112mm x 52mm x 105mm tall This box consists of a cream base with a PCB slot, a cover plate to protect your circuit, a black lid with a 12 way edge connector and 12 screw terminals built in (8mm pitch) and 2 screws to hold the lid on. The cream bases have minor marks from dust and handling price £2.00 + VAT(=£2.35) for a sample or £44.00+VAT (=£51.70) for a box of 44.
866 battery pack originally intended to be used with an orbitel mobile telephone it contains 10 1·6Ah sub C batteries (42 x 22 dia. the size usually used in cordless screwdrivers etc.) the pack is new and unused and can be broken open quite easily £7.46 + VAT = £8.77 Please add £1.66 + VAT = £1.95 postage & packing per order
JPG Electronics
Shaws Row, Old Road, Chesterfield, S40 2RB. Tel 01246 211202 Fax 01246 550959 www.JPGElectronics.com Mastercard/Visa/Switch Callers welcome 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Saturday
ADVERTISERS INDEX BRUNNING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 CRICKLEWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 DISPLAY ELECTRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 ESR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 JAYCAR ELECTRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4/5 JPG ELECTRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 LABCENTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover (iv) LASER BUSINESS SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 MATRIX MULTIMEDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 MICROCHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover (ii) MIKROELEKTRONIKA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 MILFORD INSTRUMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 PEAK ELECTRONIC DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover (iii) PICO TECHNOLOGY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 QUASAR ELECTRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2/3 SHERWOOD ELECTRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 STEWART OF READING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover (iii) T2 ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 TECHNOBOTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 ADVERTISEMENT OFFICES: 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU PHONE: 01202 880299 Fax: 01202 843233 EMAIL: [email protected]
For Editorial address and phone numbers see page 7
Published on approximately the second Thursday of each month by Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1UU. Printed in England by Acorn Web Offset Ltd., Normanton, WF6 1TW. Distributed by Seymour, 86 Newman St., London W1T 3EX. Subscriptions INLAND: £19.95 (6 months); £37.90 (12 months); £70.50 (2 years). OVERSEAS: standard air service, £23.00 (6 months); £44.00 (12 months); £83.00 (2 years). Express airmail, £32.00 (6 months); £62.00 (12 months); £119.00 (2 years). Payments payable to “Everyday Practical Electronics’’, Subs Dept, Wimborne Publishing Ltd. Email: [email protected]. EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without the written consent of the Publishers first having been given, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of Trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover, and that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of Trade or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever.
www.stewart-of-reading.co.uk Check out our website, 1,000’s of items in stock.
AGILENT 8753ET TRANSMISSION/REFLECTION NETWORK ANALYSER 300KHZ-3GHZ £POA
HP33120A FUNCTION GENERATOR 100 MicroHZ – 15MHZ Unused Boxed £595 Used, No Moulding, No Handle £395
MARCONI 2955 RADIO COMMUNICATION TEST SET ONLY £625 Also available Marconi 2955A & 2955B
AGILENT E4402B Spectrum Analyser 100HZ – 3GHZ with Option 1DN Tracking Gen; 1 DR Narrow Res; A4H GPIB, UKB…………………………….……..£5800 HP 35670A FFT Dynamic Signal Analyser 2 Channel. Unused in original box...£4000 AGILENT 83752B Synthesised Sweeper 0.01-20GHZ…………………….……£6000 HP83711B Synthesised 1-20GHZ with Opt IEI Attenuator……………….…..£5000 AGILENT/HP E4431B Signal Generator 250KHZ-2GHZ Digital Modulation...£2750 MARCONI 2024 Signal Generator 9KHZ2.4GHZ Opt 04……………………....£1250 MARCONI/IFR 2030 Signal Generator 10KHZ-1.35 GHZ ………………….…£995 MARCONI 2022E Synthesised AM/FM Signal Generator 10KHZ-1.01GHZ ...£500 HP8566A Spectrum Analyser 100HZ22GHZ…………………….……….…£1950 HP8568A Spectrum Analyser 100HZ1500MHZ…………………………..…£1250 AVCOM PSA-37D Spectrum Analyser 1MHZ-4.2GHZ……….……………….…..£IFR 1200S Service Communication Monitor……………………..…………£1500 HP6624A Power Supply 0-20V 0-2A Twice, 0-7V 0-5A; 0-50V 0.8A Special price………………………..….350 AVO/MEGGAR FT6/12 AC/DC breakdown tester………………...............£MARCONI/IFR/AEROFLEX 2025 Signal Gen 9KHZ—2.51GHZ Opt 04 High Stab Opt 11 High Power etc As New…....£2500 SOLARTRON 1250 Frequency Response Analyser 10uHZ-65KHZ……………..£995 HP3324A Synthesised Function Generator 21MHZ…………..…...……£500 HP41800A Active Probe 5HZ-500MHZ …………………………………….……£750 ANRITSU MS2601A Spectrum Analyser 10KHZ-2.2GHZ 50ohm………………£750
HP53131A Universal Counter Opt 001 Unused Boxed 3GHZ……….……..£850 Unused Boxed 225MHZ…..……….£595 Used 225MHZ……………..………..£495 HP8569B Spectrum Analyser 0.0122GHZ……………………..………£1000 HP54616C Oscilloscope Dual Trace 500MHZ 2GS/S Colour………..…£1250 QUART LOCK 10A-R Rubidium Frequency Standard…………...…£1000 PENDULUM CNT90 Timer/Counter /Analyser 20GHZ………………….£1950 ADVANTEST R3465 Spectrum Analyser 9KHZ-8GHZ………………....£HP Programmable Attenuators £300 each 33320H DC-18GHZ 11db 33321G DC-18GHZ 70db Many others available AGILENT E3610A Power Supply 0-8v 0-3A/0-15v 0-2A Unused AGILENT E3611A Power Supply 0-20V 0-1.5A/0-35V 0-0.85V Unused CIRRUS CRL254 Sound Level Meter with Calibrator………………………..£95 CEL328 Digital Sound Level Meter with CEL284/2 Acoustical Calibrator……….. CEL 269 Digital Sound Level Meter with CEL282 Acoustical Calibrator FLUKE SCOPEMETERS 99B Series II 2Ch 100MHZ 5GS/G from £325 97 2Ch 50MHZ 25MS/S from £225
STEWART of READING 17A King Street, Mortimer, Near Reading RG7 3RS Telephone: 0118 933 1111 Fax: 0118 933 2375 9am – 5pm Monday - Friday Used Equipment – GUARANTEED Prices plus Carriage and VAT
ENI 3200L RF POWER AMPLIFIER 250KHZ-150MHZ 200W 55Db AGILENT E4421B 250KHZ-3GHZ Signal Generator £250 2500
Please check availability before ordering or CALLING IN
MARCONI 2945 RADIO COMMUNICATION TEST SET with…. Opt 01 – 600 ohm Matching Unit Opt 03 – High Stability OCXO Opt 06 – Memory Card Drive with Real Time Clock Opt 08 – SSB Demodulator Opt 21 Demodulation Filters Opt 22 POCSAG Decode
Only £3,000
HP 8569B Spectrum Analyser 0.01-22GHZ £995
HP6269B Power Supply 0-40V 0-50A £400 AMPLIFIER RESEARCH POWER AMPLIFIER 1000LAM8 £POA
PRE-PRODUCTION CHECK Board Edge Defined - CHECK All Components Placed - CHECK All Connections Routed - CHECK Power Planes Generated - CHECK No Design Rule Violations - CHECK
PROTEUS 7 Design with Confidence: The latest version of the Proteus PCB Design Software provides a multistage Pre-Production Check which will detect and prevent a variety of common mistakes prior to your boards being sent for manufacture.
PROTEUS DESIGN SUITE
Features:
Hardware Accelerated Performance. Unique Thru-View™ Board Transparency. < Over 35k Schematic & PCB library parts. < Integrated Shape Based Auto-router. < Flexible Design Rule Management. < Polygonal and Split Power Plane Support.
Board Autoplacement & Gateswap Optimiser. Direct CADCAM, ODB++, IDF & PDF Output. < Integrated 3D Viewer with 3DS and DXF export. < Mixed Mode SPICE Simulation Engine. < Co-Simulation of PIC, AVR, 8051 and ARM7. < Direct Technical Support at no additional cost.
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All levels of the Proteus Design Suite include a world class, fully integrated shape-based autorouter at no additional cost - prices start from just £150 exc. VAT & delivery
Labcenter Electronics Ltd. 53-55 Main Street, Grassington, North Yorks. BD23 5AA. Registered in England 4692454 Tel: +44 (0)1756 753440, Email: [email protected]
Visit our website or phone 01756 753440 for more details
